Impact Factor (2025): 6.9
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
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.
Country : Kenya
IRJIET, Volume 9, Issue 5, May 2025 pp. 81-87