He may have thought he was funny but the Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko seems to have angered a huge lot of netizens with the remarks he made concerning the matatu CBD ban.
While Kenyans have lamented the ban and have been forced to walk for many kilometers to get to their destination, the Nairobi Governor has today told the people who voted him in that the ban of matatus from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) will help them exercise and remain physically fit.
Speaking on Monday morning as the ban came into effect, the Governor downplayed concerns that commuting between one terminus and other was a tall order, saying that most city residents “don’t go to the gym.”
“From Muthurwa to the CBD is a one minute walk. Many people don’t go to the gym. We want our people to exercise,” said Sonko.
The Governor seems to have angered many Nairobi residents who have viewed his remarks as careless and unthoughtful.
What a stupid thing to say
— Blue🇰🇪 (@Atetwee) December 3, 2018
The people that need to exercise are those that own cars. Hustlers exercise every day. ai
— Kim™ (@kimanzimwenga1) December 3, 2018
@MikeSonko the problem is not walking from Ngara or Muthurwa to the CBD,
The problem is do the the bus stops and the roads leading there have the Capacity to hold the huge traffic relocated there??, Are those new terminals safe?
Avoid creating more traffic rather than solving— ALFONCE MWAU (@MwauAlfonce_Ke) December 3, 2018
I am so pissed reading this. You want people to exercise, do you walk with them, or do you use your comfortable vehicle while these people walk. I am so sick of this country. Seriously.
— Mustard (@chuuulita) December 3, 2018
How do you tell an hungry person to exercise? How can he make a mockery of the poor? Most of the people who voted for him and who are suffering today cannot afford two meals a day.
— Issah (@IMwongera) December 3, 2018
My feet are sore. I will not be able to go to work tomorrow after walking from ngara to city stadium in the morning and evening trying to get to industrial Area. What should pregnant mother do? @MikeSonko @SakajaJohnson pic.twitter.com/BJIBAsiobq
— Queen (@Wakariuki06) December 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/cristinGV/status/1069583865851846657
He should first stop using his car for 1 month and use psv to go to work which he will do for a period of 1 month that will set a good example to us…and this has to be filmed atlist then we will get his concept
— Caroline wangechi (@carolwangechi65) December 3, 2018
Clearly, from the look of things, Sonko is not quite on the good side with most Nairobians. Residents also raised concerns as to how pregnant women and disabled person were expected to commute with this new ban to which the governor said he had spoken with President Uhuru Kenyatta and made plans to avail buses that will save the physically challenged commuters the pain of moving from one terminus to another.
“I know people are suffering, I am just requesting for patience from commuters we are going to work on an amicable and permanent solution. In the morning, I spoke to the President we are looking for the big buses from NYS to transport the physically challenged from their stages to the CBD,” said Sonko.
He further maintained that enforcement of the ban on matatus, boda bodas and hawkers from the city centre will continue in a bid to restore sanity to the capital city.
Do you think the move by the county government will help decongest the city?