Kenya advances bill granting NTSA authority to regulate matatu fares

Members of the Kenyan Parliament have moved closer to passing the National Transport and Safety Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which would give the NTSA power to approve and regulate fares charged by public service vehicles (matatus and buses). The legislation, sponsored by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, seeks to amend the NTSA Act so that a formal fare‑setting mechanism replaces the current system where operators can raise prices without oversight.

Barasa argued that Kenya and Uganda are among the few countries without regulated public‑transport fares, leaving commuters vulnerable to sudden hikes, especially during rainy weather or peak travel periods. He cited examples of fare regulation in nations such as Fiji, France, Germany, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana. If enacted, the bill could protect millions of passengers and provide a channel for reporting overcharges, while also aiming to curb profiteering by conductors.

The bill passed its second reading in the National Assembly on July 29, with the majority of MPs backing the proposal, describing it as a step toward equity, budget predictability and consumer protection in the transport sector.