A dispute over digital traffic enforcement, revenue collection, and passenger privacy has landed the Mombasa County government in court, with two tuk-tuk associations challenging a system they say imposes fines without a clear legal framework.
In a petition filed at the High Court in Mombasa, the associations accuse the county of using unmarked marshals and cameras to generate instant traffic fines without publishing a legal instrument authorising the process.
They say the county uploads the fines to its e-portal, which operators use to pay their monthly Public Service Vehicle (PSV) levy and print stickers required to operate legally.
The portal allegedly blocks operators with outstanding penalties from printing their stickers until they pay, leaving some unable to work while county officers clamp others’ tuk-tuks over disputed fines.
“Members of our society, and members of Coast Tuk Tuk Operators Welfare Group, pay a monthly Public Service Vehicle levy on the county e-portal and print the monthly sticker from that portal. Without that sticker, a tuk-tuk cannot lawfully ply for hire within Mombasa County,” said Umoja Three Wheelers Association-Mombasa chairman Patrick Mbuvi.
Tuks tuks in Mombasa. The Mombasa County government suspended registration of new tuk tuks in an effort to ease congestion.
