The Miracle that saw the birth of a matatu welfare.

After complaining for many years about how the government has failed to recognize and create serious jobs in the matatu industry and how the media has been biased when reporting anything to do with the workers in this industry; I reached a point and realized that all this noise would not do much to improve the working conditions for the thousands of my fellow work mates.
I would probably become a famous matatu blogger on the internet circles but the situation on the ground would remain the same. I started to despair and didn’t feel the desire to write anymore. The blog was doing okay and visits increasing by the day but its objective the whole reason why it was initially started was not getting the response I had hoped for. Those I was targeting to listen ignored the Aljazeera documentary and BBC’s focus on Africa report and even the local magazines;I had done all i could; not much that anybody could do to get their attention.What I needed was a miracle.
Like we all know, a Miracles {an event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature and is regarded as an act of God } happens where God’s involvement is paramount. I did not dispute the possibility of God coming in to help Matatu workers only that I did not know how to approach him to perform a miracle for me. But God is not a man that He needs a formula to work his miracles. There was a sudden change of focus in parliament and member of parliament became interested in the laws that govern traffic regulations.
A new traffic amendment bill 2012 was quickly drafted and tabled in parliament. The bill mostly targeted the matatu industry and those who work there-in, and since the media had already pitted a war between us and the rest of Kenyans, the proposal received all the support needed to implement it and the ministry of transport adopted it.
The new laws spelt doom for thousand of drivers as it had been drafted targeting part of our job description. Those who had put it together had probably noticed some of the areas that needed improvement but had failed to do enough consultation on seeking ways or how to go about solving the problem. We had no option but to go on strike. and going on strike we did.
On the second day of the strike, I was among thousands of stranded passengers, matatu workers and not forgetting a heavy presence of riot policemen and women who filled the streets across the city. We all watched the rich crisscross the streets in their personal vehicle while the less fortunate walked tens of kilometers to work and back home. Most of us were in awe;- the new act carried fines that were unimaginable as compared to our salaries. This would most definitely put most of us to prison.
We entered the third day hoping the Government would look unto our cries and put on-hold implementing the new acts. the police had a lot in their hands; they could put on hold for a while as they first deal with the raising cases of insecurity and the on-coming General Elections. We had four more months before the next government comes to power and we can wait and see what they decide to do with our petitions.
This was a very dark cloud: – where was the silver lining?
Nobody had claimed responsibility for the strike; we had participated out of our personal reasons which had one thing in common. The new act if implemented would affect all of us, professionally and personally. The strike had succeeded but unfortunately nobody was telling us what to do next. I felt responsible for having read and translated the content of the traffic amendment bill to my followers on the blog and somehow aided in encouraging the strike.
We joined hands with other like minded drivers and formed a six member committee; we immediately requested a meeting with the divisional police boss Ngong division. The meeting was granted and was also attended by all the heads of police stations along our route. Rongai, Langata and Kiserian. We explained to them the reasons we felt the new traffic act would lender most of us jobless and begged for more time to comply with the new requirements while at the same time legalize some of our jobs descriptions that were mistranslated in the new act. we asked for more time to adjust to behavior change and putting our papers in-order.
The meeting was successful as the police took the opportunity to educate us on the importance of obeying rules and at the same time listen to our request. We left the meeting after agreeing to work together and a return to work agreement was reached.
This is where the miracle came to happen; the six members who went to see the heads of security show the birth of Rongai Matatu Workers Welfare.
Today the welfare is fully registered; we have an office and a car-wash, 200 registered members, a bank account and six full time directors. Our office has so far hosted; Trade Union officials; bank managers; national Hospital Insurance Fund officials and countless matatu owners. All this meetings have been held with the aim of providing safe working environment for matatu workers. We have helped 200 members to start saving. Join NHIF and we are in the process of securing their jobs by asking the matatu owners to employ them permanently as required by the law.
We welcome any support that can help us achieve our objectives

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