Commuters in Nairobi can now sigh with relief following a directive to ban all morning and evening matatu arrests. Matatus which most of Nairobi's commuting population depends on for transport are known for their traffic law breaking culture which has always seen them cracked down and impounded by authorities. The early morning and evening arrests usually results to passengers who board the vehicles to lose their fare money and loss of man hours.

Yesterday, Traffic Police commandant Benson Githinji issued the directive stopping all traffic police from impounding matatus in the mornings and evenings, and instead, issue traffic offenders with notices where they will appear in court to answer charges.

“These morning and evening operations should stop immediately,” Githinji said at a workshop for police traffic officers and the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) in Nairobi. Matatu owners, through their association, complained of wrongful arrest by police and the rising cases of bribery demands from the officers, reported the Nation.

Yesterday, Traffic Police commandant Benson Githinji issued the directive stopping all traffic police from impounding matatus in the mornings and evenings, and instead, issue traffic offenders with notices where they will appear in court to answer charges.

MOA chairman Samuel Kimutai lauded the move terming it timely and that it will lead to self-governance. Matatus that overlap, use wrong routes, carry excess passengers and over speed have been cited as the ones that affect passengers most. Before the directive, after an arrest, all passengers were expected to disembark and look for an alternative vehicle to get to work, mostly on unfamiliar routes.