Public transport paralyzed as Kenya's minibus taxi drivers strike - passengers overload train - pic

[Kadie]

Public transport paralysed as Kenya's minibus taxi drivers strike

Nairobi - Public transport was paralysed in many large cities in Kenya Monday as minibus taxi drivers went on strike. Thousands of workers who rely on the so-called matatus were forced to stay home. Others walked for hours or hitchhiked to work, radio Capital FM reported.

For the majority of Kenyans, the matatus are the only form of public transportation in the country's cities and regions.

Many broke off their holidays to return home after the strike was announced, in order to avoid being stranded. Public radio reported that police were on high alert amid threats against Matatus who ignore the three- day strike.

Matatu operators called the strike to protest corruption. According to an industry association, Matatus countrywide lose an estimated 1.5 billion shilling (2 million dollars) annually to corrupt officials seeking bribes.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/301988,public-transport-paralysed-as-kenyas-minibus-taxi-drivers-strike.html



All aboard! Kenyan passengers hang onto an overloaded train in Nairobi after minibus taxi drivers went on a three-day strike. Thousands of workers who rely on the so-called matatus (minibuses) were forced to stay home in three major cities. Others walked for hours or hitchhiked to work.

Photo: Simon Maina / AFP / Getty Images

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. Betcha you would see the same thing here in the US

If that was a train taking people to get universal single payer health care.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. This would be a great opportunity for Oral Taint to head there to find Obama's birth certificate.

[KittyWampus]

3. serious safety issues. people have died from overturned ferries that had too many people

for instance.