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{
    "id": 881774,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/881774/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 78,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kimilili, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Didmus Barasa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1885,
        "legal_name": "Didmus Wekesa Barasa Mutua",
        "slug": "didmus-wekesa-barasa-mutua"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, aware that road transport is the most widely used means of transportation in Kenya; further aware that matatus, motor omnibuses and buses provide service to millions of people in a day and are the backbone of Kenya’s public road transport services; cognisant that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Act is mandated by law to, among other things, come up with conditions as it may consider fit for the purposes of ensuring that the fares imposed for the carrying of passengers are reasonable and ensure fair competition within the transport industry; concerned that companies, associations or Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) under whose umbrella the said public service vehicles (PSVs) operate, and which are required to prescribe fares for its members tend to take advantage of non-existence of regulatory policies in the sector thus prescribing exorbitant fares which puts a lot of strain on commuters and customers; further concerned that for a long time, commuters have suffered at the hands of merciless PSV crews who charge exorbitant fares where on many routes, fares are hiked on reasons as flimsy as change of weather, forcing commuters to spend more than what they intended to; this House resolves that the Government develops and implements regulations on the amount of fare to be charged by PSVs for their services to protect customers from exploitation. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am aware of the decree by the founding President of this country, His Excellency the late President Jomo Kenyatta, that gave birth to private citizens investing in public transport. The matatu business employs thousands of Kenyans. Because we do not have regulations, the fare from one point to another is not predictable. Very many Kenyans are suffering. Many Kenyans budget ahead. Someone may have planned to spend Kshs200 on fare. In the evening, the criminal gangs who have taken over the transport sector in this country will increase the fare and inconvenience thousands of Kenyans. The Government tried to bring sanity to the transport and PSV sector through the infamous Michuki Rules. However, the Government has not provided a clear framework to guide how much fare Kenyans should pay from one corner of this country to the other. In the absence of these regulations, criminal gangs have started controlling stages and deciding how much money should be paid. This is even dictated by changes in the weather or demand for their services. This must be regulated. The role and work of the Government is to make the lives of its citizens simpler and not difficult. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}