Thousands of Nairobi residents were left stranded across various parts of the city on Monday morning following a sharp shortage of commuter public service vehicles (PSVs), forcing many to seek alternative transport or walk to their destinations.
The disruption was triggered by a planned protest by matatu operators, who temporarily withdrew their vehicles from the roads to protest what they describe as rising lawlessness involving some boda boda riders.
Commuters were seen scrambling for ride-hailing services and boda bodas, while others opted to walk long distances amid delays and inflated transport costs.
According to operators in the public transport sector, the protest is driven by growing concerns over violent attacks on vehicles involved in accidents with motorcyclists. They claim that in several incidents, matatus have been set on fire by mobs, even in cases where boda boda riders were allegedly responsible for the accidents, some of which turned fatal.
The Matatu Owners Association (MOA) has accused authorities of failing to act on the concerns raised during a press conference held earlier last week.
Operators warn that Monday’s shutdown could be the first phase of a wider protest if the government does not take decisive steps to rein in rogue boda boda riders and restore order on the roads.
They argue that attacks on PSVs are becoming increasingly frequent, posing a serious safety and financial threat to drivers, conductors and vehicle owners within the transport sector.
As the standoff continues, commuters remain uncertain about the resumption of normal public transport services, with many calling on authorities to urgently intervene and prevent further disruption in the city.
