By Anchor Writer
Park Reopens After County Move Forces MAKOS Out of Disputed Bays
Matatu operators on today ended their boycott of Machakos Bus Park after a behind-the-scenes intervention by the County Government of Machakos defused the simmering standoff between rival transport groups.
Sources familiar with the developments told The Anchor that officers from the county inspectorate department engaged officials of Makos Savings & Credit Co-operative Society Limited and compelled the Sacco to vacate the two controversial parking bays at the centre of the dispute.
The move paved the way for a return of normal operations after hundreds of matatus stayed away from the bus park Wednesday in protest.
The boycott had been organized by operators linked to Machakos Matatu Owners Association (MAMOA), who accused county officials of irregularly handing over the bays to MAKOS Sacco through what they described as a suspicious and opaque allocation process.
Operators allied to MAMOA claimed the disputed slots had originally been used by their members before they were allegedly grabbed through corrupt dealings inside the county transport administration.
The tensions escalated after MAKOS obtained temporary court orders restraining interference with its occupation of parking slots L2R 11 and L2R 14 at Machakos Bus Park.
But MAMOA challenged the orders in court, arguing that the county government had already suspended the entire slot allocation exercise pending consultations with stakeholders, making the allocations legally and administratively questionable.
The dispute triggered confusion across the transport sector, with operators accusing the county government of favouring MAKOS while failing to provide clear direction on the status of the allocations.
On Wednesday and Thursday, commuters were stranded as matatus abandoned the bus park in protest, effectively paralysing public transport operations within Machakos town.
The crisis now appears temporarily contained following the Friday’s intervention, though operators warned the calm remains fragile unless the county government establishes a transparent and consultative mechanism for allocation of parking spaces.
The dispute has exposed deep divisions within the lucrative Machakos matatu sector, where control of bays and routes often translates into economic and political influence.
County Roads and Transport executive Nathaniel Nganga had earlier said his office remained open to dialogue, although operators criticized the administration after a meeting convened last week to address the dispute reportedly collapsed when the county leadership failed to show up.
Even as operations resumed Thursday, transport stakeholders said mistrust between the rival groups remains high and warned that fresh confrontation could erupt if the county administration fails to conclusively resolve the allocation dispute.
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