Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chair Albert Karakacha has suggested that the government should consider establishing training schools for Public Service vehicle drivers.
He said the aim is to bring down the number of road accidents by 60 percent.
Karakacha said the majority of PSV drivers do not have proper training hence being a contributing factor to the number of accidents that have led to loss of lives.
"Majority of our drivers do not go for training and instead they just learn how to drive through "kamagera".
"We believe that by having the training school, we will be able to reduce accidents by at least 60 percent," Karakacha said in an interview with the Star.
Kamagera is a sheng word that is used to refer to touts who are stationed at a particular stage to help the main conductor fill the vehicle.
He said some people go to driving schools for around two to three weeks and get a license. The time, he said, is not sufficient especially for PSV drivers.
"The government must come in. We must train a driver for six months rather than going for a short training," he said.
The association also wants the State to build a dual carriage road from Mombasa to Malava to reduce the accidents in the Northern corridor.
"We are having a high number of accidents on that road because of overtaking and having a dual carriage road will help reduce the fatal accidents."
Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) show that road accidents across the country claimed 84 lives in the first week of January 2024.
The statistics are an increase compared to 72 recorded during the same period in 2023.
According to NTSA, the fatalities in January include pedestrians (31), drivers (7), passengers (16), motorcyclists (23), pillion passengers (6) and pedal cyclists (1).