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{{Public Service Vehicle operators in Mount Kenya and Nairobi have warned of a nationwide strike should the Nairobi County government fail to reduce the high levies.}}

The matatu operators also accused Dr Evans Kidero of betrayal by failing to honour a gentleman’s agreement he had with the players on Monday during a meeting in his office.

Mt Kenya Matatu Owners Association Chairman Mr Michael Kariuki and his Nairobi Metropolitan PSV Saccos Union counterpart Mr Peter Kige warned that travellers could be forced to walk to work in the coming days if the Nairobi county government does not agree to negotiate with the operators to arrive at a more reasonable parking levies.

“The governor has betrayed us but we will still seek to dialogue with him but should that fail then we may hold a nationwide strike beginning tomorrow (today),” cautioned Mr Kariuki.

However, the Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said he was willing to negotiate with striking matatu operators over the parking fees, but vehicles blocking roads must first be removed.

Nairobi commuters were Wednesday morning forced to walk to town, after the matatu operators blocked Thika road near Pangani footbridge with stones to protest the high levies.

The matatu operators also blocked Jogoo, Ngong, Langata, Donholm and Mombasa roads, with police clearing some of the roads later in the morning.

{Levies too High}

Speaking Wednesday during a press conference at a Nairobi hotel while flanked by over 20 leaders from more than 100 matatu Saccos, Mr Kariuki said they were not opposed to any new levies but were against them being too high.

He also said the operators were “not yet on strike” but were on “a peaceful protest” adding that a nationwide strike would be the last option but “we do not want to get there as everybody will suffer”.

Mr Kariuki said the operators, despite being key players in the Nairobi County economy, were not consulted when the new levies were being decided yet the constitution demands so.

He added that the operators met the Governor on Monday and agreed they pay an interim levy but that was contravened later by the county government.

A 14-seater matatu is currently being charged Sh5,000 up from Sh2,200, while one with a capacity of 42 passengers which was previously paying Sh3,000 is now being charged Sh8,000. A PSV with a capacity of 45 passengers is now being charged Sh10, 000.

“On Monday, we agreed with the Governor that we pay an interim fee of Sh3, 650 for a 14-seater, Sh4, 500 for a 42 seater and Sh7, 250 for a 45-seater as we awaited further negotiations but we were disappointed that an official at the county government offices declined to accept the agreed payments,” said Mr Kariuki.

“We have cheques worth Sh10 million from our Saccos which was supposed to be paid but that official declined to accept them demanding we pay the new levies,” he added.

Commonly known as season tickets, the levies are paid monthly and each matatu issued with a sticker indicating payment has been done.

{{Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned 59 Nigerian children killed a few days ago in a ‘dastardly terrorist’ attack by Boko Haram militants at the Federal College in Buni Yadi.}}

In a condolence message to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the people of Nigeria, President Kenyatta strongly condemned the killing, terming it a “heinous act of cowardice that targeted vulnerable children in their most innocent slumber.”

“It is with utter shock and indignation that I learnt of the horrendous death of 59 innocent children during the dastardly terrorist attack by Boko Haram at the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi,” President Kenyatta said.

Recalling that Kenya has faced similar senseless terrorist massacres, the President assured the government and people of Nigeria that Kenyans stood with them in prayer during these trying and difficult times.

He pledged complete support to the Government of Nigeria in its fight against the evil of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Kenya and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to convey our deepest condolences and sympathies to you, your esteemed Government, the families of the victims and the people of Nigeria,” President Kenyatta said – PSCU.

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{{Uganda will send a 410-strong special force to guard UN installations in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, a Ugandan army spokesman has said.}}

The protection squad will free up thousands of UN-backed troops to pursue militant Islamists in the city, Paddy Ankunda said.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group has stepped up attacks in Mogadishu in recent weeks.

At least 12 people were killed in a suicide bombing last Thursday.

Last June, it carried out a major assault on the main UN base in Mogadishu, leaving at least 22 people dead.

On Tuesday, a Somali military general, Hassan Mohamud, assumed the post of mayor of the city replacing Mohamed Nur, who is known by his nickname of Tarzan.

The government’s decision to appoint him shows that improving security in Mogadishu remains its key priority, correspondents say.

A 22,000-strong African Union (AU) force, operating under a UN mandate, is battling Al-Shaabab in Somalia.

Col Ankunda said the protection squad would ensure the AU force was not “bogged down” escorting UN staff – many of whom are involved in aid work.

“Amisom [the African force] will be freed to follow Al-Shabaab wherever they are hiding,” he added.

Al-Shabaab lost control of most of Mogadishu in 2011 to AU and Somali government troops.

It has changed its strategy since then, launching guerrilla-style attacks – including suicide bombings and night-time mortar raids.

Last month, Al-Shaabab fighters stormed Villa Somalia, the seat of government in Mogadishu, killing at least 11 people.

The group has waged an eight-year insurgency to overthrow the weak UN-backed government and create an Islamic state in Somalia.

{wirestory}