NYS matatu service ‘Okoa Abiria’ stopped due to broken buses and lack of funds

The National Youth Service commuter bus has suspended its operations after facing a cash crunch.

It has emerged that the programme dubbed Okoa Abiria, which was a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta, did not have a budgetary allocation to finance its operations.

Public Service Principal Secretary Mary Kimonye has told the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi that the service has since been stopped as the Sh20 charged per trip could not sustain its running.

Uhuru had directed introduction of the NYS buses to various routes in Nairobi to address the public transport crisis in the capital city.

But most of the buses were grounded after they broke down and could not be repaired due to lack of funds.

“This was a presidential directive to aid citizens when the transport sector had a crisis. The observation by the audit office is factual since the buses have reduced from 27 to nine,” said Kimonye.

“The Sh20 fare transport charge could not meet operational costs hence putting the sustainability of the project at stake,” she explained. The service was charging a flat rate irrespective of the distance.

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