Transport stakeholders in Murang’a County have called for greater cooperation among players in the sector to improve coordination, enhance road safety and reduce accidents.
The stakeholders, drawn from the matatu, taxi, boda boda and lorry sectors, on Wednesday launched the Murang’a Transport Stakeholders Forum, which seeks to bring together key players to address challenges affecting the industry.
The forum Chairman, Martin Kangangi, said closer collaboration between transport operators, government agencies and road authorities would help create a safer and more efficient transport sector.
Kangangi, who is also Chairman of Murang’a Shuttle Sacco, urged government agencies to support the growth of the matatu industry instead of adopting punitive measures against operators.
He particularly called on the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to intervene over delays by insurance companies in compensating matatu owners whose vehicles are involved in accidents.
“Our members have suffered because insurance companies delay compensation when vehicles are involved in accidents, sometimes leading to auctioning of the vehicles. We want the regulator to intervene and ensure claims are settled promptly,” he said.
Kangangi also challenged matatu Sacco managements to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and drivers adhere to traffic regulations.
He identified speeding and reckless driving as major contributors to road accidents, urging Sacco officials to promptly report drivers who endanger passengers and other road users.
He further called on road agencies to regularly maintain roads and address identified accident blackspots to improve safety.
The forum Coordinator, Antony Mwangi, called for regulation of vehicle breakdown and towing services, saying some operators charge motorists exorbitant fees due to lack of effective oversight.
He also urged authorities to crack down on the use of private vehicles as public service vehicles, saying the practice undermines regulation and passenger safety.
Lorry operator, George Kimani, asked agencies operating mobile weighbridges to position them at safe sections of roads to avoid creating additional risks for motorists.
He also appealed to the Murang’a County Government to improve roads leading to quarries, which he said are heavily used by trucks transporting construction materials.
Murang’a East Sub-county Police Commander, Teresa Kariuki, representing the County Commander, said cooperation between police and transport stakeholders had contributed to a decline in road accidents in the County.
She urged boda boda operators to strictly observe traffic rules, noting that some riders operate without valid driving licenses.
“Boda boda riders have contributed significantly to road accidents. This must come to an end. They need proper training and should always observe traffic rules,” she said.
James Mwangi, a boda boda operators’ Chairman in Murang’a town, said riders were ready to undergo training and called on the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to facilitate them in acquiring driving licenses.
Meanwhile, Namukika Matatu Sacco Chairperson, Cecilia Mwangi, called on the County government to streamline stage fees and allocation of parking bays at matatu stages.
She claimed Murang’a charges higher fees compared with neighbouring counties and appealed for reasonable charges to ease the cost of operating public transport.
The stakeholders said sustained engagement between transport operators, security agencies, regulators and county authorities would be critical in addressing challenges in the sector and improving safety for all road users.
By Bernard Munyao
