Zoea Basi Mapema!! Government To Completely Do Away With Matatus

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The Kenyan government seem to have grown tired of the never ending traffic menace in Nairobi. The government alongside that of the Nairobi County has now come up with more elaborate plans to help streamline the transport sector not just in Nairobi but in the country at large.

The Government has given owners of 14-seater matatus two months for them to do away with the said vehicles.

The Transport ministry is set to roll out a plan to phase out low-capacity public service vehicles (PSVs) in the next two months.

Transport CS James Macharia has said reliance on matatus is not sustainable and linked it to the congestion and disorder prevalent in major urban areas such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

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The CS said that the first batch of 11 trains and 64 high-capacity commuter buses will arrive in Nairobi in February, 2019.

“Plans are underway for the implementation of integrated train and high-capacity bus transport system in Kenya,” Mr Macharia said in a statement.

The Transport secretary said the plan will be implemented in Nairobi and other major towns in Kenya within a period of two to three years.

But an organisation representing matatu associations and saccos that broke away from the larger Matatu Owners Association has opposed the ministry’s plan to get rid of the popular 14-seater matatus in favour of trains and bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

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“This plan will drive us out of business and kill this industry which is a major source of employment for most of our youths,” said Mr Calvin Nyaure, the association’s chairman.

Mr Nyaure accused the national government of involving ‘cartels’ in the planned management of the proposed BRT buses in bid to lock out matatu owners from the business.

“We know that the scheme also involves phasing out the 25- and 35-seater matatus from the roads. This plans involves some cartels who want to benefit from these BRT buses,” said Mr Nyaure.

Will phasing out of 14-seater matatus help reduce traffic jams in major towns?

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