Pressure Piles on NTSA as Tuk Tuk Operators Issue Strike Threat

Pressure Piles on NTSA as Tuk Tuk Operators Issue Strike Threat

Transport operations in Mombasa County could face major disruption after tuk-tuk operators issued a seven-day ultimatum to both the county government and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), demanding the immediate suspension of the controversial Instant Fines Management System or risk a countywide strike.

The warning, issued on Monday, July 6, marks the latest challenge facing NTSA’s newly rolled-out digital traffic enforcement programme, which has already attracted criticism from motorists, transport operators and some Members of Parliament over its implementation and financial impact.

The operators, represented by the Boda Boda and Tuk Tuk Transport Cooperative Union of Kenya (BOTUK), argue that the current enforcement regime has significantly increased operating costs, making it increasingly difficult for small-scale transport businesses to remain profitable.

Speaking on behalf of the union, Secretary Morara Omanga accused authorities of introducing measures that disproportionately punish vehicle owners while failing to adequately consult stakeholders whose livelihoods depend on the sector.

At the centre of the dispute is the Instant Fines Management System, which automatically records traffic offences and attaches penalties to offending vehicles through NTSA’s digital enforcement platform.

Under the system, each recorded traffic offence attracts a KSh5,000 penalty, a cost the operators argue quickly becomes overwhelming for individuals who own several tuk-tuks.

According to BOTUK, owners with multiple vehicles face the possibility of accumulating tens of thousands of shillings in fines within a short period, threatening the viability of their businesses.

“We will put transport activities in this county to a standstill, and bring all our tuk-tuks to the county government offices so that you see how serious we are,” Omanga warned.

The union says its members have given the county government seven days to address their grievances before embarking on industrial action that could paralyse transport services across Mombasa.

Omanga further explained that the penalties disproportionately affect fleet owners, many of whom operate several tuk-tuks as a source of income.

“If a tuk-tuk owner has five cars, and each has been stricken with a KSh5,000 fine, that will be too expensive for the car owner and will eventually make the operating cost really expensive,” he said.

Beyond the fines themselves, operators have raised concerns over increased surveillance through speed enforcement cameras installed along several roads.

They claim the cameras frequently capture images of their vehicles throughout the day, with some expressing fears over how the collected data may be stored, managed and used by authorities.

Although NTSA maintains that the technology is intended to improve road safety by reducing speeding and dangerous driving, operators argue that the system has created anxiety among drivers and vehicle owners.

The union is also protesting what it describes as excessive parking charges, claiming that parking fees of KSh5,000 per vehicle have further increased the financial burden facing transport operators.

Members say the combination of traffic penalties, registration costs, parking fees and other regulatory charges is placing immense pressure on an industry that supports thousands of families across the coastal region.

The operators also accused county officials of introducing measures affecting the sector without adequate stakeholder engagement, arguing that transport unions were excluded from consultations despite being directly affected by the new policies.

Adding to their frustration, BOTUK claims that some county officials have continued demanding payment of the contested fines despite a court order issued on June 30 temporarily suspending aspects of the enforcement programme.

The union argues that continued implementation despite ongoing legal challenges has created uncertainty among operators who remain unsure about their legal obligations.

Beyond the financial concerns, the transport operators warned that increasing compliance costs could have wider social consequences for young people who depend on the tuk-tuk business for employment.

According to the union, many youths entered the transport sector as an alternative source of income, and excessive operational costs could force some out of business.

“The new registration costs of tuk-tuks are also expensive. This situation will make our Mombasa youth resort to the old ways of crime, a situation we do not want,” the union stated.

The latest ultimatum adds to growing national scrutiny surrounding NTSA’s digital traffic enforcement system, which has faced legal challenges and criticism from various stakeholders over issues of implementation, fairness and accountability.

Neither NTSA nor the Mombasa County Government had issued an official response to the union’s demands by the time of publication.

Should the seven-day ultimatum lapse without a resolution, thousands of commuters in Mombasa could face major transport disruptions as operators threaten to ground their vehicles in protest, setting the stage for another high-profile standoff between transport stakeholders and government regulators.

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Pressure Piles on NTSA as Tuk Tuk Operators Issue Strike Threat