In a bid to restore sanity along Nairobi roads, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced a major operation targeting rogue matatus, popularly known as ‘Nganyas’.
The authority is keen on nabbing rogue PSV operators who have developed a knack for flouting road safety rules in the city.
Kenyans.co.ke has learnt that a crackdown was undertaken on Friday and Saturday where several of the matatus were impounded by the authority.
The operation centred around Nairobi and Kiambu counties and saw several matatu operators plying different routes being detained.
An image of a matatu with graffiti.
Photo
NTSA
Among the violations the NTSA focused on was matatus with excessive graffiti and artwork, overly bright fog lights, and tinted windows, especially on the driver’s side.
Suspects attached to the rogue matatus were arrested, subsequently released on cash bail, and are expected to be arraigned in court on Monday, January 27.
As far as the issue of rogue matatu culture is concerned, the NTSA has identified several PSVs operating on different routes in the city as the most notorious culprits.
Matatus plying the Ngong, Rongai, Eastlands (Umoja, Buruburu, Kayole), and Kitengela have been found to be the most culpable to road safety infractions.
Images and videos of some of these matatus have also emerged online, painting a dangerous picture of a road accident waiting to happen. In one of the pictures, a worried online user highlighted a matatu with a heavily tinted windscreen covered in graffiti, leaving only a small gap for the driver’s view.
Recently, the NTSA was forced to take action as they impounded two matatus branded ‘Moneyfest’ which had earlier been captured on a harrowing video that went viral openly flouting several traffic regulations.
A video footage shared widely on Wednesday, January 7 showed two popular matatus plying the Nairobi-Rongai route being driven recklessly with individuals atop the PSV.
Meanwhile, the NTSA also recently revealed a list of the most dangerous roads in Nairobi, with Outering Road and Eastern Bypass leading the line.
An image of two matatus plying the Rongai route. PHOTO/ NTSA