Over 400 Matatu Saccos Operating in Nairobi are not Licensed

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has revealed that of the 692 matatu Saccos operating within the Central Business District (CBD), only 272 are licensed.

Following this revelation, Nairobi County has with immediate effect announced that it has stopped the issuance of new licenses to matatu SACCOs.

Records by City Hall, however, indicate that there are 692 registered matatu Saccos by Nairobi city county, but 420 of those saccos are not licensed by the NTSA.

A Nairobi County Assembly Transport committee raised concerns over the influx of unregistered matatu saccos in the CBD, thus prompting the NTSA and city county to look into the matter.

The committee pointed out the possibility that among the 420 unregistered Saccos, some might not have reached the required standards to operate.

NTSA regulations clearly state that for a matatu Sacco to be licensed, it must have a minimum number of 30 vehicles.

Lost County Revenue

One of the ways that the County of Nairobi raises revenue is through charging parking fees for both saloon cars and PSVs.

Chairperson to the Transport Committee, Joyce Muthoni has said that the county is losing billions in revenue for the seasonal parking charged from these matatu saccos operating illegally within the city.

“This is a serious matter because if they are not registered then how do they pay for the seasonal parking and where does the money go to?” said Muthoni.

This issue has raised concerns of high corruption levels and laxity within the city county, seeing that over 400 matatu Saccos can ply within the city without any form of registration.

Member of County Assembly for Utalii, Wilson Ochola accused county officers of taking bribes from the unregistered matatu Saccos and denying the county of the much-needed revenue.

The Transport Committee has purported that most of the unlicensed matatu Saccos operating within the CBD   were linked to the alleged issuance of fake letters used to allocate stages for them.

Which number is right?

With the apparent confusion on which number of matatu Saccos is licensed to operate in the CBD, Nairobi County Director of Parking Tom Tinega has asked the city county and the NTSA to work together and get the accurate figure.

The Transport Committee has resolved that while the NTSA and city county work on a new list of licensed matatu SACCOs, all pick up and drop off points letters be revoked and be issued a fresh.

Read Also: 5 Most Disciplined and Safest Matatu Saccos In Nairobi