The Uasin Gishu County government has moved to resolve the prolonged conflicts among members of two Matatu Saccos, which have on many occasions paralysed activities in Eldoret city.

Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration has commenced a series of engagements aimed at finding a better mechanism for ending the conflict between Burnt Forest Travellers Sacco and 2Ways Sacco, whose matatus ply the Eldoret-Burnt Forest route.

Roads County Executive Dr Abraham Serem held a round table meeting with officials from the two Saccos in a bid to try and find potential solutions to address their issues so that the public protection at the stage is enhanced, avoid scrambling over passengers and ensure security for everyone.

According to Dr Serem, Governor Bii, in his ‘Nguzo Kumi’ agenda, has implemented several projects which benefit the matatu sector, including the rehabilitation of the Eldoret main bus park and the construction of a new bus station at Fims area.

Another intervention is the improvement of drainage systems in bus parks like Sosiani and Trocadero, and the rollout of smart traffic lights in Eldoret City to help reduce congestion and enhance efficiency in transportation.

During the meeting, Dr Serem underscored Bii’s call for peace, healthy competition, cohesion and unity among leaders, business people and the community at large to accelerate development and promised that the devolved unit will support this progress.

“As an administration, we are keen to promote transparency, equity, equality, accountability and fair practices within Saccos. We are also working to strengthen the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations, aiming to create a more level playing field for all Matatu operators in Eldoret City,” states Serem.

During the meeting, it was resolved that in the spirit of coexistence and fair competition in business, the dispute resolution team proposed that the two Saccos operate on a rotational basis, agree among themselves on operational procedure, and both withdraw the ongoing criminal cases that are before the court.

“The county government remains committed to advancing the growth of cooperatives and Saccos in the county,” said Dr Serem.

Initially, Burnt Forest Travellers Sacco and 2Ways Sacco operated under one name, Burnt Forest Sacco and their disputes are related to route allocation, management practices and slots allocation at Sosiani Bus station.