Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has issued a new directive that is aimed at decongesting the Central Business District (CBD).
The county government, through its Director of Parking Tom Tinega, announced that it had suspended matatu termini that operate illegally.
In a statement, Tinega singled out non-gazetted stations as the main cause of chaos and unnecessary traffic jams.
“It has come to the attention of the county government that illegal matatu pick-up and drop-off points have been created in areas not gazetted by the city county and especially within the CBD as per the law.
“This is to inform that only gazetted drop off points would be allowed and all non-gazetted drop off points have been suspended with immediate effect,” he stated.
This is the latest move by the county government in its attempt to find a long-lasting solution to the congestion problem.
In December 2018, Sonko was forced to suspend a ban that prevented matatus from accessing the CBD.
He noted that commuters, including the elderly and disabled, had suffered as a result of the ban.
“Many innocent commuters, including senior citizens and those with health challenges requiring emergency medical attention, expectant mothers and children traveling with their parents, all suffered untold inconvenience, and this is regrettable,” Sonko explained.
The governor went on to state that his administration would look for ways of reducing traffic in the capital that doesn’t trouble commuters.