Terminus row splits two rival Thika matatu saccos

Police in Thika have been forced to use tear gas to disperse members of two matatu saccos who were fighting over a terminus at the town centre.

The two, 254 and 2TS saccos, have been silently fighting over the same issue for about two months with one sacco accusing the other of encroaching on the other's space.

On Tuesday afternoon, the situation got out hand.

2TS matatu crew, who have been in business for over four decades, blocked 254 matatus from leaving a matatu stage in the town, forcing the latter to retaliate in a fight that police attempted to quell but in vain.

This forced the officers to throw teargas to disperse them.

SUMMONED

Later, Thika West Deputy County Commissioner Tom Anjere summoned the chairmen of the two rival saccos to a crisis meeting y where the they agreed to a temporary solution to the issue.

"We have agreed that every sacco will have its designated passenger pick-up points. 254 Sacco will temporarily occupy the space outside Vineyard Hospital until they are assigned a permanent place by the county transport committee.

“We have also agreed that no sacco will be allowed to acquire pick-up points without following due process and in addition to that, no sacco is at liberty to block the other from conducting business," said Mr Anjere.

He further cautioned the saccos against resulting to fights to settle disputes.

STOP LAWLESSNESS

"Anyone who feels side-lined or in need of being heard is at liberty to walk into any of the security or transport committee member offices. We shall not allow any further acts of lawlessness," he warned.

Thika West transport committee chairman Christopher Wanjau said they are working on a permanent solution to the conflict with a view to easing matatu congestion and repeat conflicts amongst matatu saccos operating in the town.

Mt Kenya Matatu Owners Association chairman Rufus Kariuki said there are requirements that a sacco ought to fulfil in order to operate within the town which include having a fleet of 30 matatus and having NHIF and NSSF registered crew before formally requesting for a pick-up point from the county through the association.

"254 Sacco recently fulfilled all these requirements and very soon they will be allocated a permanent space. We are glad that the security and transport committee has [provided] a temporary solution as the issue is being sorted out. We are not anticipating a repeat of what happened any time soon," said Mr Kariuki.

254 Sacco chairman Samuel Kiarie said they would respect the temporary solution until a permanent one is arrived at.

"We shall occupy the space we have been allowed to use by the committee because we must fend for our families. This will happen as we wait for a permanent solution from the committee," said Mr Kiarie.