NAIROBI, Kenya — Thirteen matatu SACCOs operating from petrol stations across Nairobi have secured temporary relief after the High Court barred the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) from evicting them.
Justice Chacha Mwita issued the orders on Wednesday, allowing the SACCOs to continue operating at the stations until a petition challenging the eviction notices is heard and determined.
The matatu groups moved to court after receiving directives from EPRA and the Nairobi County Government ordering them to vacate their long-used pick-up and drop-off points.
Their lawyer, Danstan Omari, argued that the abrupt evictions would paralyse transport operations, disrupt business, and jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of workers and commuters who depend on the petrol-station termini.
Omari said the operators sought urgent intervention after receiving credible information that county officials were planning to execute the eviction as early as today, November 19.
“Those summons came from EPRA and told them to vacate with immediate effect. Aggrieved with that, we filed a petition suing EPRA, the Nairobi County Government, and the Attorney General,” he said after the ruling.
Justice Mwita further directed all parties — including EPRA, Nairobi County, the petrol station owners, and the SACCOs — to hold a joint meeting within seven days to find a workable solution and avert a looming transport crisis.
The SACCOs have indicated they will initiate the engagement as early as Thursday, November 20, with the outcome expected to be presented to the court on December 1.
Earlier this week, the matatu operators had threatened to strike, accusing county officers and EPRA of intimidation and an unlawful crackdown on picking up and dropping off passengers at petrol stations within the CBD.
The case now awaits a formal hearing as the temporary orders remain in place.
