Eleven public transport Saccos have protested the petition seeking to stop matatus from using at petrol stations in Nairobi as pick-up points, terming it politically motivated and economically destructive.
In a replying affidavit filed at the High Court’s Constitutional and Human Rights Division, Clinton Wambua, chairperson of one of the respondent Saccos, swore on behalf of the twelve respondents.
The Saccos argue that the petitioners, Ezekiel Oyugi and John Karuru, are not acting in public interest but pursuing a political agenda aimed at embarrassing Nairobi City County and the national government.
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the operators say their Saccos have used designated petrol stations—including Total Energies (Rhino) and Ola Energy (Afya Centre and OTC)—for decades without a single fuel or LPG-related incident.
They accuse the petitioners of misleading the court and ignoring safety data showing that fuel tanks are installed underground and far from active pickup areas.
The affidavit reveals that the 12 Saccos collectively operate over 1,200 vehicles, employ 3,485 staff, and serve thousands of passengers daily.
It warns that a shutdown would cause massive financial losses—an estimated KES 3.17 billion in national and county taxes, KES 7.87 billion in business revenue for fuel, tyre, and maintenance dealers, and KES 2.86 billion in forfeited fuel taxes.
Wambua adds that attempts to relocate matatus to the Green Park Terminus in 2021 resulted in chaos and congestion, demonstrating the impracticality of such proposals.
The respondents maintain that the petition is “underwhelming, flimsy, and politically driven,” urging the court to dismiss it with costs.
The case, E652 of 2025, is pending before the High Court in Nairobi.
Saccos Term Petition to Ban Matatus at Fuel Stations Baseless
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