By Bill Abuyeka | May 20, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA — Roots Party leader Professor George Wajackoyah has blamed political interference for the decline of Kenya’s once-thriving public transport system, arguing that partisan interests dismantled a network that was previously regarded among the best in East Africa.
Speaking while reflecting on the country’s transport history, Wajackoyah said Kenya had moved away from a structured and efficient public transport model to a fragmented and largely chaotic system driven by private interests.
“There was a time when Kenya’s public transport system was among the best in East Africa, affordable, reliable and accessible,” Wajackoyah said. “Things began to change when the whole system was politicized.”
The Roots Party leader argued that political decisions over the years contributed significantly to the collapse of organized commuter transport, leaving millions of Kenyans dependent on an informal system often associated with congestion, fluctuating fares, and safety concerns.
Wajackoyah’s remarks revisit the long-standing debate over the transformation of Kenya’s transport sector, particularly following the decline of organized services such as Kenya Bus Services (KBS), which once provided scheduled and structured public transport across major urban centres.
Over time, deregulation policies and political shifts enabled the rapid expansion of the matatu sector, which now dominates public transport in many parts of the country.
Critics of the current system have frequently pointed to challenges including inconsistent fare pricing, overcrowding, traffic congestion, and weak regulation within the transport industry.
Transport experts have also echoed concerns about the lack of a comprehensive long-term mobility strategy, arguing that successive governments have struggled to implement a sustainable National Transport Policy.
Several major transport modernization plans, including Nairobi’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, have faced repeated delays amid funding challenges, shifting political priorities, and resistance from private transport stakeholders.
Wajackoyah’s comments are likely to reignite public discussion on the future of urban mobility in Kenya, as pressure grows for reforms aimed at improving affordability, efficiency, and safety within the country’s transport sector.
