Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s appeal to Matatu and bodaboda operators to deny unregistered residents services has been strongly opposed by various stakeholders in the public transport sector.
Matatu operators have dismissed the call, arguing it is not part of the sector’s requirements.
Mr Ali Bates, a national official of the Matatu Owners Association, said it is important for residents to register as voters but the exercise is not mandatory.
“We are businessmen with many of us owning the vehicles after (taking) loans. Now, if you say passengers without voters cards should be barred from boarding our matatus, how do we service the loans?” asked Bates, as quoted by the Nation.
This comes after Joho asked matatu and bodaboda operators to ensure they only carry registered passengers, as the opposition and Jubilee government seek to fight voter apathy in the upcoming polls.
“I am appealing to bodaboda, tuktuk and matatu drivers to refuse to carry passengers who do not have voters’ cards because this is the only way we are going to change our destiny and the generation who will come after us,” said Joho.
Bates argued that the move would interfere with their business,