Services in Limuru town were disrupted for the better part of Wednesday morning as matatu operators demonstrated over increase in the sub-county monthly parking rates.
Matatus, that included buses and Nissans, were according to the new rates expected to pay Sh1, 500 up from Sh 600. Taxi operators were expected to pay Sh 2, 400, which was up from1, 500.
The operators refused to park their vehicles at the main stage and instead opted to park along the road causing traffic snarl up.
Matatu operators’ disciplinarian official Hezekiah Wakahia said: “We have not refused to pay the new rates, but we are protesting against the fines imposed on us.”
Wakahia said it was not fair for an operator to go to the offices to pay their usual amount of money, find they have been increased and when he came back the next day with the extra money found a fine imposed because of the delayed payment while the delay was because of the increase.
A taxi operator, John Nyagu said the Sh 900 increase was too high not forgetting the Sh 500 for delayed payment.
“The sub-county officers should not impose a fine that quickly because we did not know about the increment and that was why most of the operators delayed by a few days to pay,” said Nyagu.