Almost every commuter in Nairobi has a dark a story about the matatus. If not rogue and rowdy conductors then at least at one point the conductor has refused to give back change to most of the people.
People have are now acclimatized to this drama. Right now people carry exact bus fare when boarding matatus and others just mind their business till they get to their destinations, people are surviving by the saying “bora uhai.”
Of course their are good matatu operators in the city, they have sense of hospitality and they are dedicated to service.
Right now the stress of missing matatus during rush hours is over.
The European Union Ambassador to Kenya has given a grant of KSh5 billion to go towards the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Stefano Dejak said this during the launch of the Muratina road in Eastleigh.
“One thing that Nairobi needs is an effective bus rapid transport system. That is why EU has invested Sh5 billion grant to make sure Nairobi residents have a safe, none polluting transport system devoid of jams,” Dejak said.
The project was initiated four months ago but was not able to kick-start due to lack of enough funds.
The grant will boost the KSh7 billion project that has long been suspended, giving the national and county government to pay only KSh2 billion towards the project.
The EU also gave Sh2.6 billion to be used to purchase 50 high-capacity buses.
The BRT system will include walkways and lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.
“We have developed a Non-Motorised Transport policy that will ensure every new road built in the city has walkways,” Sonko said.