This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
On October 9, 2019, matatu owners from various regions in Mt Kenya gathered at Prime Hotel in Embu town to oppose a government directive requiring them to install new speed governors in their vehicles.
The directive, issued by the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA), aims to improve road safety by monitoring vehicle speeds. However, the matatu owners claim that the new speed governors are costly, with prices ranging from Sh35,000 to Sh40,000, compared to the previous ones that retailed at Sh25,000.
Abraham Gichovi, a representative of the matatu owners, expressed concerns that the new directive is 'ambushing' them during inspections and forcing them to change to new speed governors. He questioned the need to change the existing speed governors, which are effective and enable NTSA to monitor vehicles well.
The matatu owners also alleged that some people might be colluding to make money supplying the new gadgets. They warned that unless the directive is withdrawn, they will go on strike.
