School children in Nairobi will in the coming days travel to and from school hustle-free and at no cost.
This is after Governor Johnson Sakaja struck a deal with over 450 matatu saccos to transport any uniformed child to school or back home free of charge.
"When I was growing up in this city, we cared for each other. Watoi walikuwa hawalipi kwa mathree, bora umevaa uniform unasimama hapo mbele ya miguu ya watu unabebwa unaenda shule (Children never used to pay bus fare, so long as you were in uniform you stood in front of passengers and you got to school)," he said.
The governor was speaking on Friday during a stakeholder meeting with Matatu Owners Association.
Grateful to the 450 Matatu SACCOS that I’ve met today for committing to carry our children to school. Will work out the logistics with @PoliceKE as this would be quite a noble thing to do for our kids. pic.twitter.com/mrs7fEv2TK
— Sakaja Arthur Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) November 18, 2022
He said there was no reason why the operators would want to charge school children bus fare and challenged them to do so free of charge for all primary school children.
"Are you willing?" Sakaja asked to a unison reply of "yes" from the operators.
Sakaja said what remains now is to work out the logistics with the 450 saccos and the police of how the programme will be implemented.
"Will work out the logistics with National Police Service as this would be quite a noble thing to do for our kids," Sakaja said.
He said the operators will not be charged for carrying excess passengers because of the school children.
"Mungu ni mkubwa, wacha sasa mimi nideal na police but don't use it as an excuse to carry excess people," the governor said.
"Because these are short distances, tuwasaidie, hiyo ni utu and God will bless you for that (let's help them, that's humanity)"
Sakaja said through this generous gesture, the matatu industry can play an integral role in strengthening the family unity by ensuring children travel far to study and return to their parents.
"Some schools are far, hiyo 50 bob ama 20 bob ya fare wengine hawana."