Commuters crowded in Ngara following a ban on matatus in the Central Business District in Nairobi on December 3, 2018. /VICTOR IMBOTO
Nairobians will now be forced to cycle or walk to the Central Business District after the government declared Wednesday and Saturday car-free days.
Transport PS Paul Maringa said there will be dedicated parking in Uhuru Park and Railways as no car will be allowed within the CBD during these two days.
Maringa said during the set days, hawkers will be allowed to sell their wares with the move set to generate Sh39.5 million daily revenue to the government from over 100,000 hawkers.
But what exactly does the government mean by car-free days?
On these days, motorists will be encouraged to give up their cars for the two days with aim of promoting mass transit, cycling and walking.
Only individuals with bicycles, police vehicles and emergency cars will be allowed into the city centre on these two days.
This means motorists will have to park outside the CBD and find their way to their offices.
However, on January 23, 2018, the Nairobi government banned boda-boda operators from ferrying people to and from the city centre.
A notice from Governor Mike Sonko’s office stated the regulation was effective immediately.
“Any operator and passenger found contravening this law will be arrested for an offence punishable by hefty fines and long jail terms as provided for in the Traffic Act, 2014.”
The notice stated that the county has not assigned parking lots in the central business district.