This archive report was first published on 1 July 2021.
Published on July 1, 2021, a proposal by the Nairobi City County Government to increase seasonal ticketing for vehicles has been met with resistance from matatu operators.
The County Government aimed to raise Ksh. 39 Billion through the increased fees, but the operators argue that this will further exacerbate their financial struggles.
Immaculate Mugo, chairlady of New Classic Travellers Sacco, spoke to Ghetto Radio about the challenges faced by the operators.
"We pay Ksh. 2,000 per month for each vehicle fourteen seater and below. If they increase the prices, we will face challenges because even getting the Ksh. 2,000 is hard," Mugo said.
The operators are already dealing with maintaining their vehicles and increasing fuel prices, making it difficult for them to operate profitably.
"People have left the business because their vehicles have been repossessed by lenders. We plead with the government to remove the parking fees for us to be able to make profit," Mugo added.
The operators fear that the increase in parking fees will lead to a decline in their business, as they will be unable to maintain their prices due to the high cost of fuel.
