Commuters stranded as students block road, matatu fares up over NTSA ban

What you need to know:

  • For a distance that Rongai residents would ordinarily pay Sh100, on Tuesday morning some were being charged Sh150.
  • Some residents took to Twitter to vent their frustrations, such as Chepkoech ‏@sharon_bor, who said: “Rongai to town is 150. Too early for this.”

Commuters in Rongai were stranded on Tuesday morning as matatus hiked fares a day after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) banned Ongata Line Sacco matatus following an accident on Sunday that claimed four lives.

One of six people injured was a Multimedia University student.

As a result, the students from the university have blocked Magadi Road in protest and vehicles have been diverted to alternative routes, according to Karen police boss (OCPD) Suiyanka Cunningham. 

For a distance that Rongai residents would ordinarily pay Sh100, on Tuesday morning some were being charged Sh150.

On Monday, the NTSA said the public service vehicle operator was deregistered because of “several violations of the National Transport and Safety (Public Service Regulations) 2014.”

Some residents took to Twitter to vent their frustrations, such as Chepkoech ‏@sharon_bor, who said: “Rongai to town is 150. Too early for this.”

Another Twitter user, Avid D ‏@Dattygal, wrote: “@Ma3Route now that @ntsa_kenya has suspended Ongataline sacco, fares in Rongai are up :-"

FEW BUSES ON ROUTE

There were also others sharing pictures of commuters stranded at bus stops as there were few buses plying the route.

Brian Moseti, a Rongai resident, told the Nation he had been at the bus stop "since 6.40am and there are no vehicles. Those available charge Sh150 to town."

Edwin Kiplagat, who tweets as ‏@__Kipling, said: “Rongai peeps will have to walk to town. Matatus charging 150 bob to town. No matatus.”

The NTSA, in the press statement, further advised the public to “avoid boarding these vehicles as they shall be impounded if found operating contrary to the authority’s directive.”

Magadi Road near Maasai Mall in Rongai. Police were diverting traffic on this road to town Tuesday morning. PHOTO | MAUREEN KAKAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP.