Interior CS Fred Matiangi' on Monday began a crackdown on rogue matatus across the country, where he has maintained that the Michuki traffic rules have to be adhered to the last letter.
However, in Thika, there is an ongoing sharp debate among matatu operators on whether Matiang'i's move to revive the famous Michuki rules is rightly informed or otherwise.
While many agree that Matiang'i is doing the right thing, there is that sizeable section of these operators who feel that the no-nonsense CS has come to destroy their business.
Let's focus on both groups at a time beginning with the losers.
1. Losers.
Apparently, matatu stage conductors and drivers in Thika are the biggest casualties of Matiang'i's brutal crackdown.
Since Monday this week, all Thika main matatu stages have been clear of 'makondaa wa kudandia' and 'maderee wa roundi/mkato'.
For starters, 'makondaa wa kudandia' are those guys you find at the stage who convince you to for instance, enter a matatu at Sh50 only to to be told by the actual conductor along the way that the fare is Sh100.
When you protest, he rudely tells you, 'hey boss/madam, gari ni mia. Kwani ni mimi nilikulipisha kwa stage?' Cartels!
On the other hand, 'maderee wa mkato' are those drivers who are for example given a Nairobi to Thika bound matatu say at Juja Town to deliver the passengers to Thika.
The 'mkato' driver will be expected to hand over the matatu at Juja Town with returning (Thika-Nairobi) passengers and of course, it is for a small fee.
The revival of Michuki traffic law has rendered these two groups jobless.
2. Gainers
A big section of mechanics at Jua Kali near Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers are actually praying hard that Matiang'i holds on and does not succumb to any form of blackmail from matatu operators.
"I actually had no plan to go home this Christmas because work has been low for the past four months. But since this crackdown started, I have made enough for Christmas and New Year," Samuel Ngugi, a mechanic based at Thika's Jua Kali area said on Friday.
"Matiangi has saved me financially and saved many lives this festive season. Let sanity be back on our roads," he added.
#hivisasaoriginal