Kenya seeks to stop financial losses in public transport sector

A public transport van pictured in Nairobi, Kenya. /CFP Image

Kenya's public transport will resume operations at full capacity starting Monday, August 9, as the government looks to rescue the country's public transport sector from financial losses.

For more than a year, public transport vehicles have been carrying fewer passengers in line with health protocols introduced to counter the spread of COVID-19.

"We will allow full capacity from Monday next week and any Sacco which will be found violating the protocol will have its license revoked," Transport Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure said on Friday.

The decision comes even as the East African country is experiencing a rise in daily new infections and fatalities.

Besides carrying fewer passengers, the public transport vehicles were also operating for lesser hours as a nighttime curfew imposed in March 2020 remained in place.

Obure however clarified that the operators will have to ensure other health protocols are adhered to by all passengers.

Some of the containment measures still in place include the mandatory wearing of face masks and hand hygiene.

The Transport Chief Administrative Secretary also urged the public transport operators to encourage cashless payments to avoid unnecessary contact mid-journey.

Kenya's COVID-19 infections increased by 1,561 on Friday to 209,823, with a cumulative death toll of 4,088.