National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) boss Francis Meja has blacklisted little shuttle alongside swvl for illegal operation of PSV business. There has been raging concerns from the Matatu Owners Association that new entrants into the market were posing unfair competition in the public transport business.
NTSA claimed that the two app companies had acquired tour service licences but instead were operating the PSV vehicles within Nairobi contrary to the safety and transport act. Meja said that he would only review their licences if they adhere to the set regulations.
The companies in a statement on Monday said it was not fair for NTSA to blacklist them and invalidate its operating licence for issues that could be resolved. Little Shuttle CEO Kamal Budhabhatti said the blacklisting was not NTSA’s doing but a result of “pressure from cartels” who run the public transport industry.
Mr. Budhabhati claimed that the two companies had been running the transport business in an efficient way for the last three quarters proving that the public transport can be operated in a more efficient manner that can at least bring sanity in the chaotic public transport sector. He said that they will not be in operation from October first till they meet the needed requirements.
The move comes the same day several Matatu Saccos were also suspended from operations after they failed to meet the minimum number of vehicles required by industry regulators.
