This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
On November 19, 2019, Ideas & Debate published an article highlighting the state of Kenya's public transport sector.
According to the article, the sector is a travesty by global standards, with citizens facing bullying, theft, and bad practice on a daily basis. The article notes that the vast majority of the world's citizens can get to work for a fixed fare they pay once, but not in Kenya.
The article cites the matatu industry as a prime example of the sector's problems. It notes that passengers are often tipped off midway unless they pay their fare a second time, and that fares can move on rain or whim without any regulation.
The article also highlights the role of police in the sector, noting that they often pull aside matatus to check for various things, but rarely to protect consumers. Instead, the police seem to be more interested in collecting 'incentives' from matatu operators.
The article concludes by noting that if the government or county took a simple stand to regulate fares and deregister any Sacco fleet abusing the fixed prices, it would change the world to a fairer place.
