Kenya's public service vehicle operations on Friday called on a 2-day strike which had paralyzed transport business in the East African nation.

The Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) has thus called on the operators to resume work after the government hinted at the possibility of amending some of the contentious clauses in the new traffic rules which comes into effect on Saturday.

"We need to appeal to the Public Service Vehicles (PSV) operators to go back to work so they can give us some time to allow for the resolution of our issues with the government which has agreed to review the newly introduced traffic rules," MWA Secretary-General Sammy Gitau told journalists in Nairobi.

The development comes as the industry stakeholders held a meeting with Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary Cyrus Njiry who reportedly promised to amend some of the contentious issues in the new rules.

"We now urge all operators to temporarily go back to business as we engage the government in talks for review of these laws we deem punitive. The issue will be discussed and moderated by all the stakeholders," Gitau said.

Thousands of commuters were stranded in Nairobi on Thursday and early Friday after the public transport operators went on strike to protest newly introduced traffic rules.

A spot check in most of the city routes found that the vehicles kept off roads as Kenyans chose alternative means to work including using taxi and motorcycle operators.

The new rules were introduced by Parliament early this month geared towards dealing with traffic offenses which account for 25 percent of accidents in the country.

Several workers arrived late in the evening on Thursday from work and arrived either late at work on Friday or failed to report to duties due to lack of transport.

A spot check in government, banks and other offices revealed that very few employees were on duty on Friday.

The Traffic (Amendment) Act 2012 will review the registration and licensing of motor vehicles and the issuance of driving licenses. The law has enhanced penalties for various traffic offenses.

Notable in the amendments is that every driver of a public service vehicle must undergo a physical fitness test before being issued with a driving license or having it renewed.

The law mandates the Inspector General of the Police to designate areas where a road block can be mounted. "Also drivers and conductors of public service vehicles must wear special badges and uniforms," the statement said.

The drivers are also required to undergo compulsory tests after every two years to ascertain their competence.

The operators complained that the new law contains some clauses that are extremely punitive and should be amended.

They also called on the government to hasten the ongoing police reforms before the new law can come into effect.

Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chairman Simon Kimutai also called on the PSV operators to resume duties and allow talks for a possible review of the laws.

He said some conductors and drivers have been arrested in police operations in Nairobi as the strike by the operators spread to different parts of the East African nation.

There were chaos and some of the protesting operators stoned several vehicles which defied taking part in the countrywide strike. Some drivers, conductors and passengers escaped with various injuries. The situation has now normalized.