Transport Chaos Returns as Nairobi Matatus Halt Services

Transport chaos in Nairobi began on Monday, February 9, morning as residents woke up to the strike by public service vehicles, leaving thousands of commuters stranded in the capital town.

This happened just days after operators announced that they would halt the strike for the next two weeks to facilitate negotiations between them and authorities and security forces.

The abrupt reversal took the commuters by surprise, especially as many had gone through a similar experience the previous week.

With the majority of the matatus still absent from the road, movement in the city had slowed down to a crawl, illustrating the vulnerability of the city’s transport system.

The resumption of the strike stands in direct contravention to promises handed out over the course of the weekend, with industry leaders pledging to give dialogue a chance.

The temporary truce had been presented within the context of showing goodwill after negotiations with police officials concerning the attack on matatus and their crew.

The core grievance remains unresolved insecurity, particularly incidents involving boda boda riders accused of violence after road accidents.

Promise of Dialogue That Quickly Unravelled

Over the weekend, the Matatu Owners Association had announced a pause in protests after consultations with security agencies.

During that briefing, an official said, “We have had deliberate engagement, and while some things are still unresolved, we have agreed to suspend the Monday strike and move forward as we address the matters.”

The statement suggested confidence that talks would yield concrete action.

The association further indicated that progress had been made, noting that investigators had already gathered evidence and identified individuals allegedly involved in the attacks on public transport vehicles.

Also Read: Kenya Railways Sends Message to Nairobi Residents Amid Matatu Strike

Warnings Issued as Operators Stayed on Standby

Despite the assurances, caution remained. Peter Murima from the Motorists Association of Kenya warned that the calm was conditional.

“This decision has been informed by the seriousness we have seen from the government that action will be taken,” he said, adding that operators would not hesitate to act if another matatu was torched.

He also reaffirmed that those responsible would face prosecution.

Also Read: Matatu Strike Called Off After Consultations

Chaos Returns to City Termini

By early Monday, the optimism had evaporated. Major termini in the central business district filled with long, slow-moving queues as matatus failed to show up.

At Archives, Latema Road, OTC, Bus Station, Commercial, and Tom Mboya Street, commuters rushed each time a vehicle was in sight, with scenes approaching a stampede.

Heavily snarled Waiyaki Way, Thika Road, Mombasa Road, and Jogoo Road worsened the situation by slowing down the few moving vehicles on the road.

Some of the operators increased fares and charged double, but others were forced to rely on high-cost online services or walk long distances.

Workers, students, and traders were the hardest hit as they arrived late or failed to turn up for their appointments.

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An aerial pictures of matatus and private vehicles on the road. PHOTO/@FederationofPT/X