Banks Road Carnage Matatu Owners

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Matatu owners and operators have linked banks to the road carnage that have been witnessed on Kenyan roads over the years.

Matatu Owners Association President Albert Karakacha on Monday said banks are pushing matatu owners to pay loans within three years, which in turn make matatu owners to overwork their drivers.

“Together with NTSA, we are trying to talk to the Kenya Bankers Association to see whether they will increase the loan repayment period from the three years to more.

“Right now, matatu owners rush to repay the loan and will in turn overwork the drivers and the matatus so that it takes more than it can handle without proper rest. This is what cause accidents,” Karakacha said.

He spoke on Monday during a road safety meeting between the matatu owners in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta, NTSA officials and traffic officers led by Coast regional traffic enforcement officer Aisha Wario in Mombasa.

Kenya recorded 5,099 road fatalities in 2025, marking an increase of 261 deaths compared to 2024.

These accidents cost the economy roughly five per cent of GDP, approximately Sh450 billion annually.

The 2025 festive season alone saw 415 deaths, a 23 per cent spike from the previous year, with Nairobi, Kiambu, and Nakuru counties leading in fatalities.

Karakacha salso asked the Kenya National Highways Authority to do more to safeguard roads in the country, saying they are also to blame for most of the accidents in the country.

The MOA president said road signages are few and far between, and some roads are too potholed with no warning to drivers.

“We want this year to be a unique year where deaths from road accidents will reduce from the previous years,” Karakacha said.

He said so far, there have been only three accidents recorded in Voi, which is a great improvement.

He said the NTSA proposal to have Saccos turned into deposit taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies so as to be run professionally is welcome.

Karakacha said: “We support that idea. Let matatus be in companies so they can be operated professionally. We want people to be saving but most importantly we want them to be run professionally so we can realize profits.”

Coast traffic boss Wario said most of the time, traffic officers collide with matatu operators because of lack of adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

She said no sane police officer will bother a matatu or a matatu operator that has fully complied with the law.

“But you find a matatu operator, blocking you on the road while carrying passengers right in the middle of the road, and them when flagged down they say we officers are bad,” she lamented.

She said although he has been in office for only two months now, she has seen enough insanity on the Mombasa roads and said something must be done.

“The other day, I was personally driving from Saba Saba towards town and a matatu being driven recklessly almost hit me. I had to swerve to avoid being hit.

“And the matatu itself had its rear tyres raised, with the side having some protruding extensions that are dangerous to other road users. Surely, what would you do were you in my shoes,” she posed, amid guilty-as-charged laughter from some matatu owners in the room.

MOA first vice president Salim Mbarak also called on matatu operators to be respectful when talking to commuters.

He said Mombasa matatu operators are fond of insulting passengers and showing disrespect even to the elderly passengers.

“If you were more kind to passengers, respectful at all times, and clean and smart, even the passengers will be your defenders,” Mbarak said.

He said matatus should not increase fares unnecessarily whenever there are disruptions like rains or traffic jams.

Karakacha called on authorities, including NTSA, traffic police and others to change the name of their operations from “crackdowns” to “road safety operations” saying the word crackdown has a negative connotation and makes road users hide their vehicles whenever they hear of it.

The MOA president asked NTSA to allow drivers or road users at least two days to correct the mistakes in their vehicles, instead of being quick to take them to court whenever they conduct their road safety operations.

“This business has no money nowadays. Matatu people have been hurting for a long time. Offences like obstruction, let those be taken to court, but a broken tail light? That should be given time to rectify,” Karakacha said.

He said Sacco chairmen to take charge of the matatus under their stables.

“Do not allow your matatus to go into the road without proper tyres. That is a death warrant you are signing,” he told the Saccos.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

MOA, NTSA and traffic police are on a national road safety campaign in a bid to reduce the road carnage on Kenyan roads. Karakacha says Kenyans unnecessarily lose their lives in road accidents, most of which are avoidable.