Transport activities in Kathiani town, Machakos county was paralyzed for four hours after matatu operators plying the Machakos-Kathiani route downed their tools and subsequently blocking all access roads in the area over what they termed as unfair competition from the Proboxes.
The more than 200 irked drivers and touts were protesting the high number of probox vehicles operating in the area saying that they were in business illegally as they have no PSV licenses, yellow lines and have not undergone inspection by NTSA.
Over 100 public service vehicles belonging to various Saccos were packed across the road blocking entrance to and out of Kathiani market as the drivers demanded removal of probox matatus from the route.
Travellers were forced to hire motorbikes to reach their destinations while others opted to cancel their trips owing to the skirmishes.
Officers from the nearby Kathiani police station intervened and dispersed the protesters to restore sanity to the route.
Sacco Officials met the traffic police in a meeting chaired by the OCS kathiani police station,After a lengthy conversation the police and the Sacco operators agreed on a consensus thus police assuring them protection from the probox owners.
Addressing the press shortly after the meeting MITA Sacco chair David Makau thanked the police for the assurance but said they would be on the look out to ensure the probox operators do not return on the road contrary to the law.