Tuktuk operators in Nanyuki town have staged demonstrations to protest a planned eviction by the Laikipia County Government, warning that the move threatens their livelihoods and could leave hundreds of families without a source of income.
The operators took to the streets across Nanyuki, expressing their frustration over a directive issued by the Nanyuki Municipal Manager ordering them to cease operations within the town.
They say the notice has effectively pushed them out of their established operating areas, leaving them uncertain about where they will conduct their business if the directive is implemented.
The operators have accused the county government of unfairly targeting their sector, alleging that the planned eviction is intended to eliminate competition and give an advantage to matatu operators affiliated with the Matatu Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs).
They argue that they have invested heavily in purchasing and maintaining their three-wheeled vehicles and depend on daily earnings to support their families.
According to the operators, removing them from Nanyuki town without providing alternative operating locations would amount to denying them a means of earning a living.
They have also questioned the timing and manner in which the directive was issued, saying they were not adequately consulted before the decision was communicated.
The demonstrators are now calling on the Laikipia County Government to reconsider the planned eviction and open talks with their representatives to find an amicable solution.
They want the county administration to identify and allocate alternative designated operating spaces that would allow them to continue serving passengers without interfering with other public transport operators or traffic management within the town.
The operators insist they are not opposed to regulations governing public transport but want the county government to involve them in decisions that directly affect their businesses.
They have warned that if the directive is not withdrawn or reviewed, they will move to court to challenge the decision and seek legal intervention to protect their businesses and right to operate.
The dispute now places pressure on the county government to balance the regulation of public transport, traffic management and the interests of different transport operators in Nanyuki.
The operators say they remain open to dialogue but will not accept an eviction that leaves them without an alternative place to conduct business.
They are urging the county leadership to intervene before the dispute escalates further.
