By REBECCA WANGARI
Transport sector stakeholders in Murang’a have called for the streamlining of laws governing the industry to improve road safety.
The stakeholders, drawn from the matatu, boda boda, taxi and lorry sectors, also called for better coordination among agencies involved in traffic management.
The forum brings together officers from the Traffic Department, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), road agencies and insurance companies to address challenges affecting the transport sector.
Speaking during a meeting in Murang’a County to launch the Murang’a Transport Stakeholders Forum, the participants said challenges facing the industry could be addressed if all players worked together.
Martin Kangangi, who was elected to lead the committee, admitted that motorists were largely to blame for the numerous accidents occurring on the roads due to recklessness and failure to comply with safety guidelines.
He, however, said poor road conditions and inadequate safety measures were also contributing to accidents.
Kangangi said the forum would help enforce transport laws across the board and restore sanity on the roads.
“The forum is such a good idea because we will be able to address all the issues in the transport sector on one forum,” he said.
He also called for additional safety measures at accident black spots, including the installation of proper road signs to alert motorists.
“We have two notorious black spots, one at Wanjii area and the Mathioya River Bridge on the Murang’a-Thika road, and something should be done to avert the frequent accidents,” he added.
Kangangi further urged the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) to intervene over what he described as delays in compensation and unfair treatment of matatu owners whose vehicles are involved in accidents.
He said the delays had resulted in several vehicles being auctioned after owners were unable to service loans while their matatus remained grounded, threatening their livelihoods.
“There is no matatu that can operate without valid insurance, but when it comes to compensation, it takes so long and we feel this is unfair,” said Kangangi.
“A vehicle is grounded at the police station and in a week or two the auctioneers come to collect it, selling a vehicle worth Sh2 million for as little as Sh400,000,” he added.
James Mwangi, a boda boda rider, said inadequate training and licensing were among the major factors contributing to the rising number of motorcycle accidents.
He urged NTSA to organise training sessions for boda boda riders in their respective areas, after which they could be issued with licences.
Mwangi said many riders operate without the necessary licences and insurance cover.
Lorry operators, meanwhile, raised concerns over the random deployment of mobile weighbridges, some of which they said were placed at accident black spots.
George Kimani, a lorry driver, said the practice endangered other road users because heavily loaded vehicles might not be able to stop safely at some sections.
“The weighbridges should be put at safe places where we can comfortably stop without causing obstruction to other road users,” said Kimani.
Murang’a East Sub-County Police Commander Teresiah Kariuki, who chaired the meeting, said the forum was part of a wider initiative by the Traffic Commandant to bring transport stakeholders together across the country to address challenges affecting the industry.
Kariuki urged drivers to comply fully with traffic regulations by ensuring they had the necessary documents, undertaking proper training and having their vehicles inspected regularly.
She also warned boda boda riders against being used by politicians to cause chaos, urging them to remain accountable and prevent the sector from being exploited for political violence.
