Have you felt the pain of stretching your feet today morning while headed to work or errands in Nairobi today? If you have then there sadly you will continue to do so as the new ban of matatus that has sired outrage from both the public and some politicians has seen itself in and out of the court confidently.
The court has declined to suspend matatu ban in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) in a case filed by matatu saccos.
Instead, the court has directed saccos to serve county government of Nairobi, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and police with suit papers for hearing on December 6.
The suit had been filed by the saccos seeking a suspension on the ban, which took effect today.
Earlier on, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja had vowed to go to court to seek court orders suspension on the same.
The county government effected the ban today, announcing new pick up stations for matatus, away from the CBD.
Appearing before Senate, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Mbuvi said that it was a matter of time and all things would come into place.
Sonko apologised to Nairobians for inconveniences caused by the matatu CBD ban, stating that the move was part of a bench marking exercise abroad.
Sonko assured residents that things will be streamlined, however bumpy they might be now.
“Over the months we have been going to Kigali, Dubai, New York to benchmark, why are we wasting tax payers’ money if we are not implementing all these issues, we are going to learn there. I know people are suffering and I request for patience from commuters. We are going to work on an amicable permanent solution to address this issue,” he said.
He urged commuters to be patient as “the process of regaining the glory of Nairobi continues”.
“Mr Chair even if you go to the restaurant today and you want an omelette, before it is prepared, an egg has to be broken. Our people are now suffering, but we are very considerate of this fact.”
Sonko said that good things do not come easy.
“Before anything good happens, it is painful and I understand that people are suffering walking from Ngara to town or Muthurwa to town. We have invested a lot on transport. We are very considerate leaders and our intention is not to punish Kenyans.”
City Hall officials say that they provided termini which have 505 parking slots for pick-up and dropping of passengers and not holding grounds for the matatus with each PSV allowed between 10 and 40 minutes at a time.