Matatu operators in Naivasha ignored calls to join their colleagues in the strike over the new traffic rules. Business was normal at the lakeside town as the operators did a roaring business as tens of travellers milled at various bus termini.

The owners said they decided to allow their vehicles operate despite fear of reprisal attacks by their colleagues. A matatu owner Tom Karanja said the operators had made huge losses during the strike as well as inconveniencing many travellers.

Karanja said the Friday strike was meant to tell the government that the new rules were bad and would leave many of them jobless. "We cannot wait and see innocent Kenyans suffering because of the traffic rules and that is why we decided to carry on with our work this morning," he said.

He said that all public service vehicles in the lake side town had heeded to the call to go back to work and called on residents to travel to their destinations without fear.

"You can see business in normal in the entire stage and there is no cause for alarm and Kenya should now transport in Naivasha is back to normal," he said.