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{
    "id": 881775,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/881775/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 79,
    "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": "It is on that basis that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) should formulate policies and regulations to cushion the many Kenyans who use matatus from exorbitant fares charged by unscrupulous people and criminal gangs controlling stages. Previously, the President urged matatu operators not to hike fares on the basis of the 8 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel. They did not heed the advice of the President because there were no regulations or laws that could help the police or the NTSA to enforce those directives. Every day, many Kenyans go to work. Even when they do not get their annual salary increment or when the cost of fuel goes down by a certain percentage, matatus would never reduce the fares they charge. During festive seasons, matatus hike their fares without any proper rationale. They are a government unto themselves. They decide what to do, how to do it and when to do it. It is on this basis that I ask Members of Parliament to support this Motion so that we can force the NTSA to develop regulations that will determine how much fare Kenyans will pay to procure transport services. The NTSA’s mission is to continually improve accessibility of Kenya’s road transport system for all users. This is not possible without regulating or managing fares that are charged by PSVs. The core functions of the NTSA as outlined in Section 4 of the NTSA Act clearly states that part of their function is to implement policies relating to road transport and safety. It is, therefore, within the mandate of the NTSA to formulate regulations to manage fares. There will be no sanity on our roads unless the amount of money paid by commuters is regulated. I appreciate the County Government of Nairobi. It has tried to amend the Urban Public Transport Act of 2018. As you are aware, commuter transport affects every Kenyan in this country. It would be prudent and fair if NTSA would formulate such policies so that counties across this country can pick it up from there and ensure that Kenyans are not exploited by the unpredictable fares that are charged by matatus and PSVs. I urge my colleagues in this House to support this Motion. I would like to remind them that our cardinal role is to represent Kenyans and oversee the Government. By so doing, we must protect them from the charges that are levied by the Public Service Vehicles. This is something that will affect every Kenyan who uses matatus, including us. You must begin from somewhere in life. Everybody in this country, including the President, began his life by boarding matatus . This is a sector that affects millions of Kenyans. If you board a matatu in the United States of America (USA) or United Kingdom (UK), you know how much money you will pay. The PSVs are given licences to operate on roads. They do not operate in a country that does not have laws to protect the citizens from exploitation."
}