Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are the dominant mode of transport in Kenya. Majority of their drivers are younger having attained some secondary school education as well as some training in driving. The drivers, however, work for more days and hours per week and have no regular and reliable remuneration package. These poor conditions of work coupled with poor training and lack of discipline on roads have been found to account for their low level of compliance with traffic regulations and rules. Low compliance has in turn been found to explain the high rate of road crashes and associated fatalities and injuries of passengers and pedestrians. Between 2003-2004, the government made efforts to gazette and enforce traffic regulations and rules. Whereas there was slight reduction in road crashes, fatalities and injuries, the road safety situation soon reverted back to its earlier level. The study sought to find out reasons for persistence of drivers’ non-compliance and their characteristics that accounted for non-compliance and prospects for reduction of the problem on a sustainable basis. One hundred and twenty five (125) PSV drivers were sampled and interviewed in the cities of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. Additional data was collected from key informants and desk reviews. It was found that despite enforcement by the police, there was high non-compliance of the drivers with the regulations. To improve compliance, there is need, among other things, for gradual transformation of the ownership and management of PSVs from individual investor- and association- to company ownership and management, improved basic and refresher training and road safety awareness efforts targeting various stakeholders.
Kenya’s Matatu paratransit transport industry is the dominant mode of transport of both passengers and goods in the country. Being informal businesses, matatu are characterized by lack of observation of traffic regulations and this has led to a large number of road crashes and associated fatalities and injuries. Whereas many factors account for the chaotic state of road transport in Kenya, this study focused on one of the factors namely, the associations and companies that are emerging in the industry. The study examined their characteristics and performance with a view to understanding their potential for transforming the industry from its informal to formal status and associated improvements in road safety. The associations including saccos and companies were studied in the cities of Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa and a few other towns that neighbor the three cities. It was found that the associations, saccos and companies that operate their PSVs as apool had developed terms of service and codes of conduct for their owners and workers and had potential for transforming the industry and reducing carnage on the country’s roads.
This article shows the contribution of neighbourhood associations in delivery of services. It examines the policy and legal framework guiding formation and operation of the associations, their governance including participation of their members and factors influencing them. Data were collected through interviews of officials of 35 associations and 42 members/leaders in Nairobi and surrounding towns, key informants and desk reviews. The article shows that the governance and operations of the associations were not based on a uniform policy and legal framework. Participation was also much better among half of the members that were older, leaders and homeowners. The associations provided services to their neighbourhoods and took affirmative actions such as withholding payment of tax to city authorities and filing cases to challenge unjust laws and practices.
2006
AUGUSTINE, PROFCHITEREPRESTON.
2006. Kenya. Proceedings of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. : Heinrich Boll Foundation.
AUGUSTINE, PROFCHITEREPRESTON.
1985. Extension education and farmers. Proceedings of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. : Heinrich Boll Foundation.