Ruaka town residents have lauded the move by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to crackdown on Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) that play loud music and those that have offensive graffiti.
According to the residents the NTSA move is timely and it will protect them against the nuisance which they are forced to daily.
Speaking on Tuesday, John Njenga, a resident said that some PSV play loud music and whenever a passenger complains, he or she is termed as old.
He said that loud music in PSVs is not only a nuisance but could result to health complications especially for ears.
“I think NTSA should have enforced these regulations long time ago because we are forced to listen to loud music in these matatus,” he said.
He noted that some PSV operators are arrogant and would not listen when passengers complain. Nancy Mate, a teacher in the area observed that loud music in Matatus has affected her ears. She says that most of the time she is forced to board the Matatus to avoid getting late for work.
Mate notes that the NTSA must get serious and stop PSV from playing loud music. “It is a relief for us that the NTSA is taking steps to stop this madness in some of our PSVs,” she said.
However a section of PSV operator’s along the Limuru- Ruaka road says that they provide entertainment for passengers by playing music.
Joseph Kangethe says that music helps the drivers and conductors to relax and keeps of sleep since they wake up early and retire to bed late.
“This music we play soothes our minds and keeps of sleep because as drivers and conductors we wake up early and the only way to keep of sleep is by listening to music,” he said.
He also said that some passengers mostly the youth generation prefer listening to music and that without it they don’t board the vehicles
Kangethe while acknowledging that loud music he says that the government should not crackdown on those that adhere to the law in regards to noise.
On Monday, NTSA started a nationwide crackdown on PSV that play loud music, have offensive and excessive graffiti and noisy exhaust. NTSA director general Francis Meja while speaking on KTN on Monday said that the agency will not relax on enforcing the laws.
He said that NTSA officials have been deployed across the country to ensure that law is enforced. He noted that the agency had received complaints from the public over loud music and offensive graffiti in some PSVs.