Patricia Mutheu, CEO of the Matatu Owners Association, announced plans on Thursday, May 23, to phase out 14-seater matatus in Nairobi to improve the city’s transport system.
In an interview on Spice FM, Mutheu addressed concerns about overcrowded stages caused by the influx of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs). Currently, Nairobi has about 15,000 matatus operating on 50 routes, with 80% being 14-seaters. Nationally, there are around 80,000 PSVs, 60% of which operate in urban areas.
Mutheu explained that these measures were outlined in a meeting with government stakeholders, including officials from the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA). She supported the move, describing it as necessary due to the growing population but emphasized the need for careful planning to implement it. However, the initiative raised concerns about potential job losses, as buses would require less staff while accommodating more passengers.
To address these concerns, Mutheu stated that they are working to streamline the process and consider all employees within the sector. The matatu industry employs over 1 million people, including drivers and conductors.
Generating Ksh5 billion daily, the sector is lucrative but needs effective regulation to increase revenue. Mutheu noted that approximately 30% of this revenue, around Ksh1.5 billion, is lost to corruption.
She proposed two solutions to address the sector’s major issues: developing infrastructure and enforcing a cashless payment system for all matatus. A key challenge in implementing the cashless system, according to Mutheu, is the lack of regulations.
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