Passengers waiting at a bus terminus in the wake of the night travel ban by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). [Photo/Daily Nation.]
Travelers in several Nakuru bus termini are being forced to spend extra money to pay for their accommodation and night hotel services due to the ongoing night travel ban.
According to a spot-check, it was revealed that most passengers have been forced to spend nights in hotels especially those who had made prior bookings but afterward got disappointed by the transport companies which chose to abide by the directive.
Speaking to the press yesterday (Thursday) Central Rift Matatu Owners Association chairman Stephen Muli, assured their customers that the association was working closely with the Ministry of Transport to have the night travel ban lifted.
“Talks with the government to have the ban lifted are in top gear and I want to assure our clients that there is a glimpse of hope for matatus to continue operating at night and all I would like to say is that please bear with us a little longer before we solve this vexed issue,” said the association’s chairman.
According to Muli, the association has proposed more stringent measures for night travel in a bid to curb road carnage one of them being hefty fines and even revoking of licenses from indiscipline drivers.
Speaking in Nakuru, Muli said that the ministry should allow Sacco’s which have fully complied with all the transport regulations to be allowed to be back on the roads at night.
“The move will allow ample time for the ministry to track progress of each Sacco and routes they ply so as to take appropriate action and also, I would like to call on all Sacco and matatu operators within the country to fully abide by the recommendations if at all they will be allowed to be back on the roads at night,” he added.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) had on Monday restricted long-distance passenger service vehicles to travel between 6 am and 7 pm.
The ban was imposed following the deaths of more than 300 persons in December alone, the majority of which occurred through night accidents.
The ministry also revoked temporary TLB licenses issued to all city operators.
Travelers who spoke said the ban should be lifted adding that they have experienced a lot of delays at the stage waiting for vehicles.