KENYA: Relief for Holiday Makers as Matatu Operators turn down calls for a strike

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Submitted by IQ4News on Mon, 19/12/2011 - 12:03pm

The operators argue that the strike will jeopradize the plans of many Kenyans as their employers accuse COTU of interference.

By Joab Apollo

It was a relief for holiday makers in Kenya after operators of Public Service Vehicles, known in Kenyan transport parlance as "matatus", turned down calls by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) for a 10-day strike.This came in the wake of a spat between the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) and COTU on Sunday with MOA accusing the civil servant's body of interfering with their business.

Matatu Owners Association Chairman, Simon Kimutai, castigated COTU for venturing into a territory that did not belong to them.

"We do not want people interfering with our business. The strike has been called by people who do not own vehicles" an agitated Kimutai said on Sunday

Most vehicles in major Kenyan towns went on with their operations unperturbed by the call for strike.

In the Eldoret-Kisumu highway, the vehicles were busy ferrying people to different holiday destinations, ending anxiety that had been brewing since the industrial action was planned two weeks ago.

James Nyakundi, a driver plying the Eldoret- Nairobi highway said that they could not make such a mistake as Christmas season is a time when they make alot of money.

"Yes, the high fuel prices as pushed as to the wall. But this was no the best time for the strike. We would have interfered with the plans of so many people who have saved for Christmas since the beginning of the year," he said.

Blame Game

The Matatu Welfare Association Chairman, Dickson Mbugua, however blamed some drivers who doubles as Matatu owners for the failure of the strike.

He said that some of their members have heeded the calls for strike and did not resume to work.

The strike had been criticized by the Consumer Federation of Kenya, Federation of Kenyan Employers and the Transport Licensing board, with all arguing that there are better avenues to vent frustrations rather than halting the normal transport system.

The festive season always see many travel upcountry and to the parks and beaches to relax, and the strike could have dealt them a big blow.

The operators have been demanding a 30% reduction in fuel prices. Last week the government reduced the price of petrol by shillings, a fact that infuriated the public.