Public transport across the country is staring at a total standstill starting Monday after matatu operators issued a final ultimatum to the government over the rising cases of arson targeting their vehicles.

The Matatu Owners Association (MOA) expressed outrage over what it describes as “government inaction.”

They claim that boda boda riders have been attacking and setting public service vehicles (PSVs) ablaze without facing legal consequences, creating an “uncontrollable security situation” for investors.

MOA Chairman Albert Karakacha emphasized that the transport sector is one of the country’s largest taxpayers and deserves state protection.

“We are asking the government to protect us because we know the government is supposed to protect everybody,” he stated, noting that operators have no issue with tax compliance but will no longer tolerate the destruction of their property.

Adding weight to the threat, Inter-corridor Mobility Chairman Joseph Kagai warned that the strike would not be a mere withdrawal of services.

Operators plan to block major roads, towns, and roundabouts nationwide, effectively paralyzing movement.

“The government is slowly losing authority over the safety of property belonging to our investors,” Kagai said.

He pointed out the irony of the sector being heavily regulated and paying fuel levies for road maintenance, only to be left vulnerable when violence erupts on those very roads.

Perhaps most concerning was the hint at a return to the industry’s darker days of informal enforcement.

Kagai cautioned that if the authorities fail to act, operators may be forced to confront perpetrators themselves, a move that would bypass the structured Sacco reforms of the last decade.

“We don’t want to take the law into our hands,” Kagai warned, “but if those mandated to protect us are not doing their job, we will be forced to defend ourselves.”