Corruption in the Public Service Vehicles continues to give Simon Kimutai sleepless nights.

Despite his term as the chairman of the Matatu Owners Association coming to an end on June 15, Kimutai pledges to soldier on fighting the vice.

Kimutai says corruption is a disease that requires a proper strategy to address.

“I fought corruption single-handedly until at one point I was told to tell my people not to give out money. All Kenyans must fight this vice,” he says.

The outgoing chairperson will however continue serving as a patron of the association.

Kimutai, 62, has been at the helm of the association for more than 20 years.

When asked about his major contribution to the sector while at the helm, Kimutai says he helped bring order by having Saccos.

“I helped the state to understand that the sector contributes a lot to the country’s economy,” he said.

Kimutai said corruption is most visible in the public transport sector.

“It is there, you will see it, somebody taking money, letting the car go and stopping another one. It is dirty and stupid.”

He urged the Inspector General of police Japhet Koome to change the strategy.

He said even though the giver is as guilty as the receiver, corruption is extortion and blackmail.

On decongestion, Kimutai said there have never been proper transport planners in the country.

“NTSA should scrap the issue of licensing people to stop at the city and then say you are congesting the city,” he said.

Kimutai said there is a need for a study on where the electric bus has been successfully implemented.

He said NTSA should not license new vehicles before knowing where they are going to operate.

“They should study supply and demand and see if it is equilibrium. Nobody should dominate a route,” Kimutai said.

On the much awaited Bus Rapid Transit, Kimtai advices the government to borrow best practices from countries that have successfully implemented it.

“We need a government that is action-oriented. We have talked over four years and nothing has taken place. If it comes, let them consult and do what other countries have done to succeed in BRT,” he says.

Kimutai says there are best practices in Columbia, South Africa and other countries that have implemented BRT successfully.

He challenged the state to engage those who have heavily invested in the sector saying they are set to lose their fortunes.

“You cannot come and take my route that I have invested.”

Kimutai said one of the biggest challenges while at the helm is the control of the business, adding that the licensing authority does not want to listen to an investor.

“They also exaggerate the industry by licensing more and more vehicles and there is no business thereby making very difficult to recoup the investment. Investors should hang on there as they have put their money,” he says.

When asked what he will be doing now that he is not at the helm of the association, Kimutai says, “For me I will be playing golf in the morning, I go take care of my cows, read newspapers and books.”

He added, “I promise myself and my God that I would never go into politics.” - GILBERT KOECH, The Star