Nature and Trends in the Public Transportation Systems in Kenya in the Wake of Covid-19 Pandemic: The Role of ICT

The COVID-19 pandemic continues has had devastating effects on people across the world and their way of life. Both the number of confirmed infection cases and deaths are still growing rapidly globally. The response to the pandemic had locked millions of people in their homes and disrupted every part of the economy including the transportation industry. The effects of the pandemic on public transportation extend beyond providing a service and the current health related risks to financial viability and sustainable mobility. This paper sought to carry out a survey to establish the role of ICT on nature and trends on effects of COVID-19 intervention protocols on Transportation in North Rift and Western Region, Kenya. The study adopted a survey design where mixed method was used to collect data. A sample of 120 respondents was derived from the stakeholders from the organized public transport sector (PSV operators, school transport operators, PSV supply chains, frequent travelers, and policy makers in the transportation sector). The findings revealed that majority of the public transport operators supported COVID-19 intervention protocols by providing temperature guns (92%) ,Sanitizers and sanitizing the travelers (89%), reducing the capacity of each vehicle (90%), observed curfew times (88%) by stopping bookings early and operating within stipulated timelines, A majority (98%) of the Matatu’s had adjusted the fare upwards in response to the reduced capacity, a good number (67%) were struggling in the business with 46% facing difficulties coping and 79% said that the cost of business had risen. Minority of Sacco's (30%) had adopted use of technology in reservations and payment of goods & services, adoption of ICT in management of Sacco’s is costly (70%), while only (5%) had tracking systems for goods and services but had to deal with resultant challenging business realities of reduced revenues and rising cost of business, loan defaults, and members disposing off assets to fend off banks. The study recommends Technological approaches such online booking systems, cashless payment methods and Sacco management systems should be adopted by all matatu Sacco’s.