Kenya’s public transport sector is in visible distress. What was once a vibrant, affordable means of mobility has morphed into a daily gamble for passengers, pedestrians, and motorists. Rampant indiscipline—speeding, overlapping, reckless stopping, and noise pollution—has become normalised, turning our highways into scenes of crime rather than arteries of the economy.

At the heart of this chaos lies a deeper problem: a compromised enforcement system where corruption within the police force allows lawlessness to flourish unchecked. Matatus and boda bodas have effectively become laws unto themselves. Traffic rules are negotiable, fines are “settled on the roadside,” and repeat offenders face few real consequences. The result is a transport ecosystem where safety is optional and human life is cheap.

The Rwanda Counterexample

This state of affairs is not inevitable. Rwanda offers a clear counterexample. Through firm political will, zero tolerance for corruption, and consistent enforcement, Rwanda has built a culture of road discipline respected by all. In Kigali, drivers comply not because they fear harassment, but because the rules are clear, fair, and enforced without favouritism. The contrast with Nairobi, where a bribe is often cheaper than compliance, is stark and shameful.

Kenya can do the same, but it requires more than just knee-jerk crackdowns during festive seasons. Reforming public transport requires cleaning up traffic enforcement, professionalising the sector, and investing in structured mass transit. We must restore respect for the law, not as a suggestion, but as an absolute.

• Enforcement Integrity: Traffic police must be insulated from bribery through automated ticketing and body cameras.
• Political Will: Top leadership must declare road safety a national security priority, not just a transport issue.

Governance Reflection

Disorder on the roads reflects disorder in governance. Fixing one demands fixing the other. We cannot expect orderly conduct from matatu crews when the enforcement agencies are themselves agents of chaos. It is time to raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. If Rwanda can sanitise its roads, Kenya has no excuse for the bloodletting we witness daily.