Nairobi county Directive by Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko to bar matatus from accessing the city have raised a lot of public out cry. Most city dwellers have been forced to trek long distance to in order to access the city.
Although the directive is good and has been achieved by other countries such as Tanzania and Rwanda, Kenya have jumped on it without a prior plan for the citizens to reach the city. Countries like Tanzania have commuter trains which charge cheap to take people to the city and they are accessible. This is what has forced Nairobi governor to challenge the move.
Ngara Flyover, WTF kind of trash is this? SMH. Sonko needs to grow up manze. 😱😱😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/O2v7BQ0hNy
— 69 (@__Mutuku) December 3, 2018
Nairobi Senator Jonhson Sakaja has moved to court to seek orders suspending the ban of matatus from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
In his case, Sakaja argues that the Nairobi County Government has enforced the ban without conducting public participation.
As I said yesterday and before. The move by @MikeSonko to ban matatus from the CBD is premature, and unfair to ordinary citizens. You don’t ban matatus before providing alternatives for commuters. MUST BE RESCINDED immediately and proper planning done. #MatatuCBDBan pic.twitter.com/4SXa8PpTUO
— Sakaja Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) December 3, 2018
He further faults Governor Mike Sonko’s administration for ejecting the matatus from the city centre without providing convenient alternatives, thereby leaving commuters stranded.
In a notice published in the local dailies last Thursday, City Hall announced that 11 termini had been designated for all matatus in Nairobi to pick and drop off passengers.
The only way to know the true measure of someone is to give them power – Johnson Sakaja. #NTVToday @murithi_kenn #MatatuCBDBan pic.twitter.com/rYbygbHW4D
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 3, 2018
While some Kenyans support the ban of matatus from the CBD, a majority are of the view that the idea was poorly planned, hence, the chaos and inconvenience witnessed on Monday morning.
We have the Nairobi Regeneration Team, and the partnership between the county and national governments. We must involve other people – Johnson Sakaja. #NTVToday @murithi_kenn #MatatuCBDBan pic.twitter.com/tsxItDIezG
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 3, 2018
Hundreds of commuters were forced to walk long distances on Monday morning as the matatu operators headed the directive to drop off passengers at the new designated areas.
LIVE: Watch #NTVToday with @SmritiVidyarthi for the day's news and updates on the #MatatuCBDBan. https://t.co/ULeDvJ09ic
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 3, 2018
What is you opinion on the new directive by Sonko to ban Matatus from accessing the CBD?