Meru municipal boss cracks down on illegal PSV stages and addresses market traders’ complaints
Meru Town Municapal Manager Gitobu Nkanata (Right) speaks to the press. Photo by Brian Gitonga
Municipal manager Gitobu Nkanata warns PSV operators over unauthorised passenger pick-ups as Gakoromone market traders await road repairs
By Brian Gitonga
Meru Town Municipal Manager Gitobu Nkanata yesterday put public service vehicle operators on notice, warning that the municipality would enforce regulations against picking up passengers at unauthorised locations and would not tolerate continued flouting of designated stage arrangements across the town.
Speaking at a press briefing at Meru Town Hall, Nkanata said PSV operators had clear instructions to use designated pick-up and drop-off points and that no exceptions would be made for those found operating outside established rules. “We have clear instructions, and the law does not allow anyone to pick up passengers at undesignated locations, including along roadsides. We will not make exceptions,” he said.
The municipal manager accused some operators of deliberately bypassing designated stages to avoid paying required fees, describing the practice as a direct challenge to the municipality’s efforts to bring order to public transport operations in Meru town. He named Mohammed Moti, Tuskys and Continental as designated stages for taxi operators and said all categories of public transport providers were expected to comply without exception.
Nkanata also directed criticism at individuals who actively encourage PSV operators to collect passengers at unauthorised points, describing them as obstacles to orderly town management. He warned that the municipality would act against both operators and those facilitating non-compliance.
The municipal manager then turned to a separate but equally pressing issue — the condition of the temporary Gakoromone market in the Canaan section, where traders relocated to make way for the redevelopment of the original Gakoromone Market have raised persistent complaints about poor road access and inadequate infrastructure.
Traders have accused the county government of failing to put in place sufficient road infrastructure following their relocation, saying the poor conditions are hurting business. Nkanata acknowledged the frustrations but said the county government was working with contractors and engineers to address the outstanding concerns progressively.
“We acknowledge that there are still challenges at the temporary market. Some have been addressed, while others are being resolved progressively,” he said.
Among the most pressing concerns raised by traders is the condition of Shauri Road, identified as a major obstacle to accessing the market, particularly for vehicles transporting goods. Nkanata said the road had been excavated approximately two weeks ago and quarry dust applied as part of initial improvement works. He said the municipality planned to add murram to the surface to reduce the risk of vehicles skidding during wet weather and ease movement for traders and customers alike.
Similar works were also planned for the road linking the western side of Canaan to Kooje. Nkanata said the contractor had been instructed to assess what improvements were needed and to consult engineers before preparing a bill of quantities outlining the scope and cost of the proposed works.
“We have instructed the contractor to consult the engineers and prepare a bill of quantities so that the remaining challenges can be addressed,” he said, urging traders to remain patient while the process unfolded.
The municipal manager called on Gakoromone market leaders to engage directly with the contractor and technical team to ensure trader concerns were factored into the planning process. He said direct consultations would help identify priority areas and ensure the proposed improvements were responsive to the actual challenges on the ground.
Nkanata maintained that preparing a bill of quantities was a necessary procedural step before any works could begin and asked traders to bear with the municipality as it worked through the process. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving conditions at the temporary site while keeping the broader Gakoromone Market redevelopment project on track.
For traders who have already endured months of disruption since their relocation, the assurances will need to be backed by visible action on the ground. The condition of access roads remains the most immediate concern, and the coming weeks will test whether the municipality’s commitments translate into tangible improvements before the rainy season makes conditions worse.
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