Commuters within Nakuru central business district, majority of who use the Nacho Square have expressed concerns over the upsurge in the number of unapproved matatu crews forcing them to board certain matatus.
According to the commuters, the bus park is slowly moving back to the olden days where different matatu crews could engage in fist fights in the name of business competition.
They accused Saccos of not putting their offices in order, thereby allowing ghost workers to invade the once orderly bus park and turning it into a nightmare.
Samantha Akinyi decried harassment, use of excess force and fake matatu crew who have no official uniforms or badges.
“I was really disappointed because travelling has been converted into a real hustle at Nacho. Recently while travelling to Nairobi; my daughter and I were in another matatu while my bag had been taken to another one, what was the meaning of all this?” she wondered.
Mzee Pius Malesi accused law enforcers of being too lenient to different Saccos leading to the ignorance of the famous ‘Michuki laws’.
“Gone are the days when commuters were harassed, pushed and even pick-pocketed at bus stations but in Nakuru, it’s sad that that is slowly becoming the order of the day,” he said, adding that he was left with a strained wrist after two rivalling touts forcefully tried to snatch his bag from him.
Mzee Malesi, who is a regular traveller in Nakuru, advised Sacco chairmen to rethink their service delivery strategies saying some people on the ground could be harassing their customers something he believes can pose a real challenge in business.
“Most officials just sit in the office not knowing of what really happens on the ground. The situation on the ground is really pathetic,” he noted.
A majority of Sacco officials whom spoke to this writer confined not to be aware of the accusations, but promised to look into the same.
“Some agents on the ground secretly employ their friends to help them solicit customers then they share the commission but about harassment, we have not received any official complaints,” offered Chris Gitau, chairman, N2K Sacco.
Commuters have been advised to launch official complaints with the police or at Sacco offices to help eradicate the vice before in takes root at the bus park.