The government has ordered matatu owners whose vehicles are decorated with graffiti to remove them ahead of the November 12th deadline for compliance with Michuki rules.
However, owners whose vehicles are customized and fitted with fancy entertainment units say the move will negatively impact on their businesses. They say that their vehicles earn them twice what matatus without decorations rake in per day.
“This vehicle make double what the other vehicles make on a daily basis. A normal Matatu makes about Sh7000, I make more than Sh15,000 daily,” one Matatu operator says.
The owners further argue that they coughed millions of shillings to have the units fitted on the vehicles and removing them means they will incur huge losses.
“This vehicle has been customized at a cost of Sh7 million and now the owner is forced to take it apart at an additional cost of Sh500,000,” says another operator.
Michuki rules, which were introduced by the late Cabinet Minister John Michuki requires public service vehicles (PSVs) to have one color and a continuous yellow line around the vehicle.
In 2014, President Kenyatta okayed the use of graffiti on matatus saying it creates employment opportunities to youths but police now say the President’s remarks were taken out of context.
Michuki rules reign for ever…
Michuki rules reign for ever…that guy should have been a president long time had he not been summoned up in Heaven. But luckily, he gave us the best in only a few months before he did his last bow.
UK, please do not bend such golden rules. Such gestures encourage CORRUPTION!
As long as you have …
As long as you have individual owned matatus the madness will never end cartels control every phase of this industry !!
There should not be…
There should not be government interference with young people earnings, wakwende uko.