An open letter to;
Transport CS James Macharia, Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnett, Chief Justice David Malaga, NTSA National Director, Kiambu County Commissioner, Traffic Command Kiambu and Githunguri Traffic Base
Dear Sirs, I wish to bring to your attention a rogue PSV Sacco plying our roads with unabated impunity.
This year alone, the now infamous Kaka Travellers Sacco PSV Vehicles have caused serious accidents along Kiambu - Githunguri Road causing tens of deaths and left an even bigger number severely injured and facing terminal injuries, others maimed besides depleting families with hospital bills.
Sirs, this is the only PSV Route in the entire Kiambu County and possibly Kenya that continues to operate in a vacuum despite clear traffic rules, NTSA Regulations and Michuki Rules which this Sacco blatantly flouts with impunity.
Traffic officers on the ground and NTSA reinforcement officers, I can authoritatively say, are compromised and have greatly contributed to this lawlessness and impunity.
A ride in a 120 matatu is the most horrendous, tiresome and irritating giving the worst experience one would want to witness especially during peak hours.
Besides the rude matatu crew, the vehicles with full knowledge of the police, NTSA and Sacco Management will never leave Kiambu for Githunguri without carrying excess passengers.
Equally, their notorious 'mwengeyo' matatus will always carry 'excess' on their way from Githunguri to Nairobi.
Complaints to the management are coldly received and seemingly always falling on deaf ears.
Just who protects this rogue Sacco which has now turned into a cartel? Is there a traffic commandment in Kiambu and by extension a traffic base in Githunguri? Is NTSA reinforcement just restricted to curbing drunk driving during weekends and speeding on major highways?
Who is responsible for these nuisances on Route 120?
Not once or twice has a student been drugged in these packed matatus and lost school fees and valuables. Women have lost money on their way to market or from selling their farm produce, other commuters have lost valuables like phones, laptops and bracelets etc in these crowded PSV Vehicles.
Besides, commuters risk contracting communicable diseases like TB and Hepatitis B which are not only life threatening but also expensive to treat.
From carrying excesses, overlapping on Kiambu Road to very arrogant crews especially during peak hours Kaka Travellers PSV is just a shell of what we prided of a decade ago.
Needless to mention, Route 120 is the most exploitive in the country. It's cheaper to travel from Nairobi to Thika, Nairobi to Murang’a, Nairobi to Machakos and Nairobi to Fly Over than it is to travel from Nairobi to Githunguri.
Sirs, something is amiss!
Someone is either an accomplice or sleeping on their Job. This madness on Route 120 must be fixed ASAP! I know the cartel will come in arms to defend themselves but we need a total overhaul of the Kiambu Traffic Department which has literally reduced Kiambu Road to a cash cow.
Over to you Police Inspector General Boinett and Transport CS Macharia. Enough is enough!
Save us from this despicable shame and impunity!
MWANGI X MUTHIORA Facebook