The matatu industry, an avenue for investment and employment for many, represents the best and worst of the true spirit of enterprise. Self-regulated by often competing interests, the industry has largely degenerated into a by-word for disorder and indiscipline - a Kenyan wild west.

But the steady decline in service standards by players like the Kenya Bus Services and City Hoppa is a poignant reminder that even angels fall from grace.There is no doubt that last months action arose out of genuine and unresolved complaints by the industry against the traffic police whose appetite for bribes is legion. Like marrows growing on a rich dung heap, traffic police feed on the chaos of the matatu industry.Because there is no genuine, systematic and entrenched commitment from the highest levels within the police force to rein in corruption, there are no prizes for betting that last week's strike is not the last.True, a few dozen police officers have been arrested and charged over corruption but the numbers pale in comparison to the extent of the problem.The saving grace is that in the midst of this cacophony of organised chaos, a few notable exceptions, like Double M, 2 NK, among others show that the industry can get its act together and is not beyond redemption.High sounding pontification about zero-tolerance to corruption rings hollow when viewed against obvious equivocation in ridding the force of its bad apples.There are few "poor" traffic cops, many cannot account for their wealth and it is common knowledge that the department is widely seen as the most lucrative because it aseasy pickings.That is not to say that there are no traffic police officers committed and faithful to their callinBut these are few and far between - the exception rather than the norm.Kenyans must be saved from an irascible matatu industry that largely chooses not to play by the rules and a traffic police brigade that enriches itself under the guise of rendering public service.

lessons

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• KenyaFor the matatu industry, there is an abiding lesson from within its own ranks that order is not bad for business where effective self-regulation ensures enforcement and censure for breaking the rules. This is common sense that must be driven home.

But it is time we seriously debated whether we can do without traffic police. They are bad for business everywhere and the legion of complaints against them calls for a serious rethink on their role and place.Opting for greater reliance on technology to enforce the traffic code may be the way to lance the boil of corruption on our roads though this may only transfer the problem elsewhere.Still, this must not paralyse us into inaction because, if there are any lessons to take from last week's strike, it is that our police officers cannot be entrusted to tame a wild west that is their gambling casino. Though Kenya is not a banana republic, we may go bananas unless we act.
                   The minor towers next to the citizen.