Matatu owners seek to cite official for contempt over detained vehicles

Matatu owners whose vehicles have been impounded and registration number plates confiscated now want the road safety director DR. Andrew Kiplagat jailed for six months for disobeying court orders. 

In the petition filed under certificate of urgency, Nganya Association also want DR. Kiplagat to appear in court to explain why he should not be cited for contempt of court after allegedly failing to comply with court orders issued on February 3.

High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye issued orders directing the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to release all impounded vehicles and return their confiscated registration plates pending hearing and determination of the case filed by Nganya Association.

The matatu owners, through their lawyer Danstan Omari, had challenged the NTSA’s directive, arguing that the crackdown is unlawful.

The operators however, claim that the Director has blatantly defied court orders and directions, leading to mounting financial losses and operational disruptions.

The matatu owners allege that they visited NTSA’s offices on February 4, to collect their confiscated registration plates.

However, they were reportedly kept waiting for over three hours without any assistance, despite a court ruling in their favor issued a day earlier.

The petitioners say they are suffering “colossal losses” due to NTSA’s failure to comply with the ruling, preventing them from resuming their operations and earning a living.

“The applicants are ready, willing and available to abide by any and all directions that the honorable court issues, to enable them revert to their operations and earn a livelihood for themselves and their families ,” read court documents.

Justice Mwamuye has since ordered the applicant to serve the application by February 7, with responses due by February 14.

Any rejoinder will be filed by February 21, and the case will be mentioned on February 25 before Justice Lawrence Mugambi.

The operators claim that that they have suffered massive losses due to the enforcement measures, which have left their vehicles grounded.

Since January 21, 2025, the matatu owners claim they have been subjected to excessive and unjustified crackdowns, resulting in frequent NTSA inspections and impoundments.

“Due to these surprise crackdowns, our clients have been forced to park their vehicles in their in backyards rather than risk impoundment and prolonged stays at police stations. Even brand-new vehicles have been unfairly flagged under the punitive and discriminatory inspection measures,”* reads part of their court filing.

The petitioners further argue that their attempts to seek intervention and secure the release of their vehicles have been ignored, despite having operated on the same roads for years without prior issues.

The matatus operate on key routes, including Embakasi, Kiambu Road, Ongata Rongai, and Thika Road up to Juja.