MOMBASA — The Mombasa County Government has ordered all tuk-tuk operators to register with registered SACCOs by January 1, after which enforcement will begin against non-compliant operators.
Transport, Infrastructure and Governance CEC Dan Manyala said the directive was part of a broader effort to promote safety, accountability and order in the public transport sector.
“Mombasa is a tourism city. We must have a transport system that is organised, traceable and safe,” he said.
Manyala said the county is finalising regulations that will govern SACCO operations for both tuk-tuks and boda bodas.
So far, the county has approved eight SACCOs, while others will be allowed to register provided they meet the requirement of at least 100 tuk-tuks per SACCO.
From January 1, SACCOs will become the only recognised channel of operation for tuk-tuk transport.
The new system will also introduce unique identification numbers and colour-coded stickers, which will allow authorities to identify where a vehicle is registered and trace it in case of incidents.
Finance CEC Evans Oanda said the directive is intended to boost county revenue by registering operators who are currently not paying statutory fees.
“Out of about 17,000 tuk-tuks, only 4,000 are contributing revenue. This reform will bring everyone into the system fairly,” he said.
Deputy County Commissioner Kalume Kashuru said national government agencies will support enforcement after the deadline.
“We will ensure compliance through cooperation with county and security agencies,” he added.
They were speaking during the launch of tuk-tuk SACCOs at Tononoka grounds in Mvita Sub-County.
Caroline Sankan, NTSA Coast Regional Manager, said:
“The SACCO structure is a requirement under the National Road Safety Action Plan to ensure public service vehicles operate in an organised and licensed manner. When operators are in SACCOs, we are able to regulate their operations, enforce standards, and engage them continuously on road safety.”
The system is expected to increase county revenue collected from tuk-tuks.
“The SACCO system will finally help us identify every tuk-tuk, every driver and every owner. For a long time, some operators have been paying while others have not, and this has been unfair. Through the SACCO system, we expect the revenue collected by the county from the tuk-tuk sector to triple,” said Dickson Kibagendi, Chairperson of the Mombasa Tuk-tuk SACCOs Caucus.
Salama SACCO Chairman Anwar Bujra urged operators to comply while appealing for national government support.
“The president had promised empowerment once operators organised themselves. We have done our part, and now we ask for support,” he said.
Operators at the launch were also urged to work with authorities to improve safety and professionalism.