Tuk tuk operators in Mombasa have threatened to paralyse transport services in the county if their grievances over the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) Instant Fines Management System are not addressed within seven days.
The operators, through the Boda Boda and Tuk Tuk Transport Cooperative Union of Kenya (BOTUK), issued the ultimatum on Monday, saying the new fines and registration requirements are making it increasingly difficult for many of them to stay in business.
At the centre of the dispute is NTSA’s Instant Fines Management System, which imposes a Ksh5,000 penalty for every traffic violation detected under the system.
BOTUK Secretary Morara Omanga said the fines are particularly punitive for owners with several tuk tuks, arguing that the costs quickly pile up and threaten the viability of their businesses.
“If a tuk tuk owner has five vehicles and each attracts a Ksh5,000 fine, the total amount becomes too expensive. It raises the cost of doing business and makes it difficult for operators to survive,” he said.
The union warned that if no action is taken, members will suspend transport operations across Mombasa and drive their tuk tuks to the county government offices in protest.
“We will bring transport activities in this county to a standstill and park all our tuk tuks at the county offices so that they understand how serious we are,” Omanga said.
Besides the fines, the operators say they are unhappy with increased monitoring through speed cameras, claiming the cameras capture their vehicles repeatedly throughout the day. They also expressed concern over how the information collected is being used.
They further complained about what they described as high parking charges of Ksh5,000 per vehicle, saying the additional costs have placed more pressure on small transport operators already struggling with rising operating expenses.
The union also accused the county government of introducing policies affecting the sector without involving operators in consultations.
Another issue raised by the operators is the continued demand for payment of the contested fines despite a court order issued on June 30 suspending their implementation. They claim some county officials are still insisting on collecting the penalties.
The operators also argued that the cost of registering tuk tuks has become too high, warning that many young people who depend on the business for a living could lose their source of income.
According to the union, if the concerns remain unresolved, more young people could be left without jobs, a situation they warned could have wider social consequences.
The operators are now waiting for a response from the county government before deciding whether to proceed with the planned strike.
