Abstract:
In the year 20 I 0, the Kenya government announced that 14-seater vans, commonly referred to as “matatus” . were to be phased out so as to reduce traffic congestion on the roads and also to ensure efficient commuter movement. Travelers on Kenyan roads have not experienced public transport system without 14-seater PSVs. It is not known whether the perception of commuters about the efficiency of 14-seater vehicles in the city of Nairobi is higher than for the alternative PSV modes. The study's general objective was to establish factors that determine the commuters' choice of 14-seater PSVs over the other alternative PSV modes in Nairobi city in terms of travel time, fare charged, distance walked, number of alternative routes and time taken to board a vehicle to full capacity. Survey research design was used. The population was low cadre employees who commute and work at the headquarters of government ministries in Nairobi. Random sampling method is used to select the ministries. Departments in the ministries were also identified through random sampling. Desired data was collected through the administration of a questionnaire whose validity and reliability was ascertained using a pilot study in Nakuru town. The data was processed and analyzed using x2-test, analysis of variance, linear regression model with respect to time and fare charged. The insights gained in the research are of great importance to policy makers in government and non-governmental agencies dealing with public passenger transport. The study established that travel time from house to workplace had influence on choice of 14-seater PSV over the other alternative PSV modes. Second, the existence of alternative routes had influence on commuter choice of 14-seater PSV over the other alternative PSV modes. Third, fare charged had effect on commuter choice of 14-seater PSV over the ther alternative PSV modes. Fourth, the fare charges during the off-peak hours influenced the commuters' choice of the PSV vehicle they would wish to use. Fifth, the time taken to walk by a commuter had no influence on choice of 14-seater PSV over the other alternative PSV modes. To phase out 14-seater PSVs, the government can introduce operational regulations on the use of 14-seater PSVs that make the said PSVs unattractive to both investors and commuters
