Matatu owners in Nairobi have opposed a petition seeking to ban Public Service Vehicle (PSV) SACCOs from operating in petrol stations within the Central Business District (CBD), warning that such a move could cripple the city’s transport system and lead to massive job losses.
The petition, filed by two individuals, seeks the suspension of operations for at least 12 SACCOs accused of picking up and dropping off passengers inside petrol stations in the city centre. The petitioners argue that this practice poses grave safety risks to passengers and other users due to the potential for accidents or fires.
Among the petrol stations mentioned in the court filing are those located in downtown Nairobi, OTC, and Afya Centre key termini serving routes to Central, Western, and Eastern Kenya. The petitioners maintain that using petrol stations as matatu stages violates safety and zoning laws.
However, lawyers representing the affected SACCOs, including Dunstan Omari, Stanleigh Kinyanjui, and Swiga Martina, dismissed the case as “ill-intentioned and economically destructive.” They argued that matatus do not operate inside petrol stations but only park nearby for short periods to pick up passengers.
Kinyanjui emphasized that banning SACCOs from these locations would disrupt transport for thousands of daily commuters and adversely affect small businesses that rely on matatu operations, such as petrol stations, garages, and roadside vendors.
The legal team also cited the failed Green Park Bus Terminal project as evidence that similar bans have previously failed due to poor planning and lack of viable alternatives.
“The matatu industry supports over 1,000 units operating within the CBD and contributes significantly to both county and national revenues,” Kinyanjui stated, urging the court to dismiss the petition.
The court is expected to set a date for hearing the matter, which could have far-reaching implications for Nairobi’s public transport network.
