Thirteen matatu companies have filed a petition in the High Court seeking urgent orders to stop the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and Nairobi County Government from enforcing a ban on picking and dropping passengers at petrol stations in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
The petitioners – including ENA Coach, Easy Coach, Mololine, North Rift, GTS Supreme Sacco, Nenus Shuttle, Transline Classic, Prestige Limited, Kangema Sacco, and Super Premium T&T – warned that the sudden directive could cripple their operations and disrupt essential public transport services.
In a certificate of urgency, the transport operators said they had been issued immediate orders to halt passenger services at fuel stations. They described the move as abrupt, procedurally flawed, and economically damaging.
The companies argued that enforcing the ban during the peak festive season could leave thousands of commuters stranded, affecting both long-distance and shuttle services. They also noted that there is no record of incidents where their operations had posed a safety risk at Nairobi petrol stations, while similar services continue without restrictions in other parts of the country.
Through their lawyers, Stanley Kinyanjui and Danstan Omari, the petitioners questioned why Nairobi commuters were being singled out and called for urgent court intervention to prevent irreparable harm.
“The sudden halt in operations could result in massive financial losses and disrupt vital public transport services at a critical time,” their petition states.
The counsel has urged the High Court to prioritise the matter, arguing that any delay in issuing conservatory orders would render the petition ineffective.
As the case proceeds, Nairobi commuters and transport stakeholders await the court’s decision, which could determine whether matatus can continue picking and dropping passengers at petrol stations during the busy festive season.
