A ground-breaking bill to control commuter fees that the National Assembly is presently debating, may soon put an end to fare increases planned by public transportation providers.
Didmus Barasa, a Kimilili MP, is the primary sponsor of the National Transport Safety Authority Amendment Bill, which aims to create a new section particularly devoted to formulating policy guidelines for the control of passenger fares in Kenya’s public service vehicles.
According to the Bill, the Cabinet Secretary would have the authority to create regulations that specify the maximum and minimum tariffs that motorists in public service vehicles must pay. They will do this in coordination with the NTSA. The bill also specifies how rates for public service cars would be reviewed on a regular basis.
The NTSA Amendment Bill for 2023 has now been forwarded to the National Assembly Committee on Transport for additional examination after being formally introduced in the House.
The proposed legislation would make a considerable improvement to Kenya’s public transportation system’s fares in terms of uniformity and dependability. Commuters around the country have long had to deal with occasional and unrestricted fare increases, which frequently place an excessive financial strain on their regular commutes.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, the bill’s sponsor, underscored the importance of a systematic approach to fare regulation, stating, “This bill seeks to address a longstanding issue that has plagued our public transport system. We need clear guidelines and regulations to ensure that commuters are not subjected to arbitrary fare increases. It’s about making transportation more predictable and equitable.”
Standardized fare regulations will help both passengers and public transportation providers by providing much-needed clarity. The proposal recognizes that fair fare arrangements can foster more business confidence and trust.
The Cabinet Secretary will collaborate closely with the National Transport Safety Authority to build the regulatory framework in accordance with the terms of the bill. This framework will try to strike a compromise between keeping passenger costs low and making sure that transportation providers can operate in a sustainable environment.
If the bill is passed, it might be a game-changing moment for Kenya’s public transportation system, bringing it closer to the norms for fare regulation and passenger safety on the global scale. The measure seeks to develop a more egalitarian and reliable public transportation system by providing a transparent method for determining fares and routinely reviewing them.
The National Assembly Committee on Transport will now play a critical role in evaluating the draft legislation and obtaining feedback from numerous stakeholders, such as transportation associations, commuter advocacy groups, and governmental organizations.
The public in Kenya is eagerly awaiting a solution to the long-standing problem of irregular fare spikes, one that might pave the way for a more predictable and inexpensive commute, while politicians in Kenya debate the merits of the measure.
