Lawyer Danstan Omari seems to have won round one of his bid to be the next Nairobi Senator after touts, drivers, bus industry stakeholders, and Nganya owners vowed to support his bid of replacing embattled Senator Edwin Sifuna in the next polls.
Speaking in Nairobi’s OTC area and Githurai town, respectively, they jointly thanked Omari for standing firm with them against the ‘oppressive’ NTSA, which they claimed has been violating their rights for years.
“This is the type of leader we want in Nairobi; NTSA has frustrated us, and we are going to make sure he becomes our next Senator.” Said John Adan, a Githurai-based touts and driver’s chairperson.
Adan said that, on behalf of the entire group, their main objective was now to convince his group to rally behind Lawyer Danstan Omari in his bid ahead of the next polls.
His sentiments were echoed by another tout and driver leader in Nairobi’s OTC area, who said that Omari’s force was unstoppable.
“Let us just elect him; we want a leader who will value us,” he said.
Their sentiments came hours after the High Court issued orders directing the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to release all impounded vehicles and return their confiscated registration plates to some of the owners and some drivers.
The order was granted by Nairobi Judge Bahati Mwamuye, who issued the directive pending the hearing and determination of the case filed by Lawyer Danstan Omari on behalf of the Nganya Association and the entire group.
“Pending the interparty hearing and determination of the application, a conservatory order is hereby issued directing NTSA to return all confiscated registration plates to the affected matatus and release the impounded vehicles unless they are lawfully held under a valid court order,” reads the order.
Before Omari’s intervention, the said buses had been confined and placed at a common point without being allowed on the road.