Troubled Swvl wins hearts of Kenyans online
Kenyans have rallied behind embattled Shuttle-hailing service provider Swvl following the numerous rows the company has been having with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) since its inception.
On Tuesday NTSA called for prosecution of the firm’s director and for the company to cease its operation in the city.
According to NTSA, the app-based public service transport operator has not been licensed either by the agency or the County Government of Nairobi to ply the routes it has been operating in.
Last year they stopped operations briefly after receiving orders from NTSA to halt their services on most routes in Nairobi.
Kenyans on Twitter were miffed by the ongoing troubles bedeviling Swvl.
Here are some of their reactions:
Let us see which magistrate or judge who will issue injunctions stopping SWVL operations. We will make a petition to anyone standing on the way of decency. @Kenyajudiciary @dkmaraga #NCAJ @StateHouseKenya @PSSDTransport @ntsa_kenya @ODPP_KE @IG_NPS @KenyasOmbudsman @kot https://t.co/rrsZfCBLQ8
— Motorist Association (@motoristsoffice) February 19, 2020
The problem facing #Swvl is not a transport problem. It’s an ICT problem. What’s funny is that ICT ministry has a CS, a PS and Two CAS but they won’t write to their transport counterparts and those NTSA cons to stop their nonsense. Technology is a DISRUPTER!
— DD (@Disembe) February 19, 2020
Sometimes you wonder whose interest the government works for. @SwvlKenya is a popular professionally run clean & reliable city transport service devoid of all the hullabaloos associated with Matatus. And now @ntsa_kenya is frustrating it. pic.twitter.com/Av7rfGIpjB
— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) February 19, 2020
If you have noticed @SwvlKenya has grown popular owing to its convenience and efficiency but it now looks like the Matatu cartels are trying to ‘defend their business.
SWVL is just an Uber that carries many people to different destinations.
You can’t fight technology! pic.twitter.com/Jo40pubi4y
— Kigen_AbdulHakeem (@KiplimoKigen) February 19, 2020
Most of these Matatu Saccos have multiple TLB’s allowing them to operate in different routes whats so hard about licencing SWVL to do the same.
— Paul kirima (@Kirimajnr) February 19, 2020
It’s not NTSA, it’s cartels using NTSA to fight SWVL, plus the guys eating from the Cartels too
— Dee (@Dnaani) February 19, 2020
They have the power to do that. What’s stopping them from holding meetings with SWVL and other parties, discussing their objectives, NTSA speaks their side and they come up to a mutually beneficial agreement? Hii ni ujinga tu btw & its costing the country money & development
— Nyina Wa Búrúri (@Spazbender) February 19, 2020
@ntsa_kenya what you’re trying to do to SWVL is Shameful! You are not a Cartel for Matatu’s… Stop Behaving Like One! https://t.co/XX7VCEpIGz
— Angie M (@thoggy33) February 19, 2020
It must be more than ICT. #Swvl transport management have gained trust to most of Kenyans (Nairobi). Transport fare is fair -pocket friendly. Is efficiency is remarkable. Question is why now question ICT systems?
— 9 (@andyK_9n) February 19, 2020