Nairobi county government has allowed matatus to use any bus terminus they prefer in the city centre without requiring an approval letter.
According to the Nairobi County Transport Chief Officer Richard Kavemba said Governor Mike Sonko had ordered that all approval letters be disregarded and matatus to use whatever terminus they prefer.
In a statement he added, “This is to inform all registered matatu saccos and the general public in Nairobi that there will no longer be need to get a letter of approval from City Hall for any Sacco member to access the use of our gazetted PSV terminus. With effect from the issues of this press release, it is an order from the office of the Governor.”
Kavemba said some saccos had developed a sense of entitlement to use some termini exclusively.
In addition, “Our gazetted matatu terminus is open for use by all. The only requirement is for the particular sacco members pay the monthly matatu seasonal parking ticket and be operating within the routes captured in Gazette Notice 4479 of 2017.
“This Gazette notice clearly indicates the various designated and registered PSV or matatu terminus which is to be used by saccos operating from the different routes both within and out of the City,” he wrote.
The move is in line with Governor Sonko’s intention to end corruption in City Hall.
“I wish to communicate that any other letter or approvals previously issued to any sacco should forthwith be regarded as null and void as it is no longer a requirement. It’s important for all stakeholders to note that our gazetted Matatu terminus are strictly to be used as drop off and pick up points and not as holding grounds for PSV Vehicles,” Mr Kavemba wrote.
Earlier in April 2018, City Hall had ordered matatus to vacate the CBD in 10 days in a decongestion move that was likely to cause standoff with public transport sector players.
Transport executive Mohamed Dagane the had asked commuters to prepare to walk.
Matatu operators had the promised to stay put and threatened to ground public transport should the county stop them from entering the city centre.