Nairobi transport paralyzed by strike

Residents in the capital city of Nairobi were forced to seek other means of transport to get to work on Monday morning, as public transport operators went on strike over new traffic laws introduced by the government.

This came two days after the cabinet secretary of the internal security and coordination ministry, Fred Matiang'i, reiterated the government's determination to enforce the new laws, saying they will bring sobriety into the sector.

He was responding to the Federation of Public Transport Operators, who called all their members to stop work on Nov 12 to protest the new rules while asking for further consultation with relevant ministries.

Commuter train services were unable to cope with the influx of travelers struggling to get to work. "We may get to the Central Business District by train, but then how do we commute to our place of work several kilometers away?" wondered Susan Kimuyu as she climbed on a motorbike taxi for an exorbitant fee.

The new set of laws give harsh penalties to drivers for minor traffic offenses while also requiring drivers and conductors operating public service vehicles to wear uniforms and badges and prominently display their portraits, among other things stipulated in existing laws commonly referred to as "Michuki rules."