William Ruto's Advisor Calls for Ban on Matatus with Graffiti, Weird Lights: "Return Road Sanity"

• Professor Makau Mutua has suggested a state-sanctioned crackdown in the tumultuous matatu industry to restore dignity in the public transport sector
• Mutua, who is President William Ruto's advisor on constitutional affairs, targeted the infamous matatu culture characterised by camouflaged PSVs fitted with loud music systems
• He proposed a structured, dignified, and safe transport model with select buses that can be easily managed

Professor Makau Mutua now wants the state to crack down on the rowdiness in the tumultuous matatu industry and generally bring sanity to public transport.

Mutua, who is President William Ruto's advisor on constitutional matters, observed that Kenya's public transport has long lost its dignity due to the inculcation of the infamous matatu culture.

He said there was a need for a reset.

Mutua proposed a structured transport model with identifiable buses which passengers would use with the certainty of their safety.

He suggested traceable networks of buses, which passengers can use in place of the current system, where saccos have emerged with hundreds of vehicles with questionable modes of operation.

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Mutua particularly singled out the networks of the minibuses with flashy designs and urban artistry.

The vehicles, most of which ply around the Nairobi metropolis, have been known to be wayward on the roads, featuring notorious crew members whose undertakings are a far cry from the basic customer service to passengers.

All those must be removed from the roads for sanity to be restored in the transport sector, Mutua suggested.

"Let’s return road SANITY to Kenya’s major cities/towns by introducing reliable, clean, and timely buses (ala KBS), licensing a limited number of matatus who must have the same model minibuses with the same colour (no strange camouflage and weird lights), and banning boda boda. No pain, no gain!" Mutua tweeted.

Mutua had earlier called for a ban on the widespread low-cost motorbike transport in Kenya.

Why boda boda in Kenya should be banned

In a tweet on Thursday, July 17, Mutua said the culture of motorbikes, commonly called boda boda, had become an inconvenience on the roads and a threat to public order.

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According to Mutua, who is President William Ruto's advisor on constitutional affairs, the boda bodas had become an embarrassing spectacle in the country.

It is his argument that the boda boda culture is compromising the dignity of the country.

He called for their ban in major cities and townships.

"I am convinced that all boda boda should be banned from the streets of ALL Kenya’s major cities and towns. No modern city should tolerate such chaos, illegality, terrible aesthetics, and indiscipline on its roads. Absolutely unacceptable," he said.

However, as it were, Mutua's perspective sparked mixed reactions.

Do Kenyans support boda boda ban

Whilst a good number of his audience shared in his thoughts, an equally good chunk disagreed, referencing the convenience the boda boda sector has caused to the ordinary citizenry that patronises their services.

Besides, the dissenters argued how the sector had helped solve the unemployment question and bolster the economy.

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They suggested regulatory measures to filter out the rogue elements in the sector.

They accused Mutua of advancing blanket condemnation when the sector has a good share of civilised operators.

Kenyans opposed to the professor's proposition noted that rogueness in any sector is tied down to innate personality issues and hence should not be splashed on those undertaking their work with dignity.

Mutua was advised to recommend solutions to those depending on the very sector.

Source: TUKO.co.ke