Buses in Mandera town. Bus owners are complaining of loses due to lack of customers following a travel ban on non-locals. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
Bus owners have said the recent ban of non-locals from using public transport out of Mandera County is affecting their businesses.Chairman of the Mandera Bus Association, Mohamed Bardad, said they were counting losses over the ban as non-locals are not allowed to use their buses to travel out of the county.Bardad also claimed that communities in Mwingi and Thika who depend on the buses for their operations have been affected by the ban.He urged the government to find a solution which he said is affecting the non-locals and the bus companies.“We are making no profit and communities in Mwingi and Thika areas have issued threats to deal with our buses if we continue blocking their people stranded in Mandera,” said Mr Bardad.Al-Shabaab fighters and their sympathisers have been targeting buses in the region ferrying non-locals.Last month, Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the government is not able to ensure that the travellers are safe and secure urging non-locals to use air travel, adding that the militants are targeting non-locals and security officers.On Monday, Mandera County Police Commander Bernard Nyakwaka said the directive for non-locals to leave Mandera through Moyale still stands.