The Nairobi county government is doing the most to decongest the city but it has all come at the expense of commuters. Barely 24 hours ago motorists in Nairobi county were celebrating the county government for slashing parking fees to Ksh. 200 from the current Ksh. 300.
However, while those who enjoy the privilege of driving their personal auto mobiles, a huge chunk of Nairobians who use public transport as their main means of transport are lamenting the move by the county government to ban PSVs in the city center.
City Hall now said that matatus will no longer be allowed to enter the CBD with effect from Monday, December 3, 2018. The move is aimed at easing congestion in the country’s capital city.
In a notice published today, the county government says it has established 11 termini while declaring null and void all others that had been previously allocated despite concerns that the new points lack enough capacity.
“Operators are required to take note that the above changes take effect as from 3rd day of December and all previous gazette notices or letters allocating any other place as picking and dropping points within CBD are hereby revoked and become null and void as from 3rd day of December 2018,” read the notice signed by acting County Secretary Pauline Kahiga.
Starting next week Monday, all matatus from Uhuru Highway, Waiyaki Way, Kiambu, Thika Road, Kipande Road and Limuru Road will pick and drop passengers at Fig Tree in Ngara while all high capacity buses from upcountry will be stationed at Machakos Country bus.
PSVs using Mombasa Road and Lang’ata Road routes will now drop and pick passengers at Hakati terminus while those from Jogoo Road will terminate at Muthurwa. All matatus plying the Ngong Road route will now be expected to stop at Railways.
Vehicles that go past Kenol on the Nyeri-Meru-Nairobi road and all upcountry PSVs accessing the city via Waiyaki Way will now drop and pick passengers from the Park Road terminus.
This is not the first time City Hall has tried to effect the ban in the CBD as there have been failed attempts in the past with transport operators saying the new points outside the city centre lack enough space for their vehicles and basic amenities like toilets and lighting.
“The number of matatus within CBD cannot fit into the new stages. Look at Fig Tree, can it take all matatus from Thika Road? The places lack lights and are not well-constructed,” said the Chairman of the Matatu Welfare Association (MWA), Mr. Simon Mbugua said.
Nairobi remains one of the cities worst hit by traffic congestion in the world according to 2017 Traffic Index.
The report by Serbia-based website said that Nairobians spend 62.44 minutes on average in traffic, making it the worst hit city in Africa followed by Cairo at 51.56 minutes and the South African cities of Pretoria (49.00) and Johannesburg (45.15).
How will the ban on PSVs in the CBD affect your daily commute?