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The government has moved to quell the ugly dispute between matatu and tuktuk operators plying Githurai-Bypass-Ruiru route in Kiambu county.

Gikakuru Travelers Sacco members have been embroiled in a week-long tiff with tuktuk operators who ferry passengers from Ruiru Bypass to OJ and Kahawa West areas over new transport charges.

While matatu operators have been protesting alleged harassment by tuktuk operators, the latter accuse the former of hurting their business by introducing cheaper fares despite the skyrocketing fuel prices.

The reduced transport cost, the tuktuk operators insist, has occasioned unfair competition, a situation that could possibly drive them out of business.

“We have been charging Sh30 from the Bypass stage to OJ since fuel prices went up. The Gikakuru Sacco introduced a fare of Sh20, triggering unfair competition. We have literally been edged out of business and that forms the basis of our protest,” said Gitonga Muruge, a leader of the tuktuk operators.

At the same time, tuktuk operators have been accusing their matatu counterparts of dropping and picking passengers at their designated stages, a circumstance that has further doubled their woes.

But a meeting held between the parties at Ruiru county headquarters resolved the growing enmity between them.

The meeting attended by the operators, police officers, county representatives (including CEC in charge of Roads and Transport Mwenda Kiara) and Ruiru Sub-County administrator Celina Mureithi, resolved that matatu operators will only be allowed to ferry and drop passengers from Githurai without picking at any of the stages in between the route.