Thika residents have boycotted the controversial Neo-Kenya Mpya Buses following a series of accidents along the Thika road leading to deaths and injuries.
Led by the Thika District Business Association (TDBA) Programs Coordinator Samuel Chege, the commuters protested in Thika town main stage where the buses usually pick their passengers and barred the buses from conducting any transport activity in Thika town on Thursday.
Chege who spoke to the press on behalf of the business association said they have noted with concern that there have been laxity in apprehending the drivers and workers of the bus group even when they break the traffic rules.
“The buses speed, overlap, cause accidents, close roads and cause traffic congestion in Thika but no officer dares to administer the law on them. We want an immediate action from the traffic police department on why they cannot be arrested nor brought to book for contravening the traffic rules,” he said.
He further added that TDBA was supposed to reach the National Transport and Safety Association (NTSA) via a written protest before they could break for Christmas but, unfortunately, the association secretary was unavailable therefore postponing the action for the year 2016.
Chege has issued a stern warning on the bus company and the traffic department bosses that if they fail to act on the members of public grievances, the commuters will boycott from using the buses and thus render them useless on the roads.
On Wednesday, December 23, two buses heading to Nairobi were involved in an accident at Clay works along the Thika road with the Ruiru traffic base commander Mr Daniel Sambi confirming that three of the passengers in the buses died on the spot while scores were nursing injuries in both Thika level five and Ruiru level four hospitals.