Nairobi governor Mike Sonko issued a directive this week barring all public service vehicles (PSV) from entering Nairobi’s central business disctrict (CBD), but do you think this will happen? Well, this is not the first time the county government is issuing such a directive.
Former Governor Evans Kidero tried the same, with him coming up with a plan of constructing matatu termini outside the CBD, with the biggest terminus being at Ngara. However, the plans failed after his term came to an end. Governor Sonko’s directive bars PSVs from accessing CBD as from Monday, but what is the operators’ plan?
PSV operators have vowed to defy Nairobi county government plan to kick them out of the central business district starting Monday in a move which is set to paralyse transport within the city. Will this again turn the country into a walking nation?
Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chairman Simon Kimutai on Thursday said new termini proposed by the county do not have space to hold more than 16,000 PSVs travelling to the city on a daily basis.
The points outside the city centre also lack basic amenities such as lighting and toilets for crew members who will be operating the vehicles.
“We have over 1,000 vehicles coming into the city centre on Waiyaki Way and another 2,000 on Jogoo Road. We can’t go there because there will be a serious traffic congestion in the city,” said Mr Kimutai.
Public service vehicles have been banned from entering Nairobi city centre starting Monday as City Hall moves to decongest the capital. In a notice published in the dailies Thursday, the county government says it has established 11 termini.
County Executive for Transport Mohamed Dagane said each matatu should not take more than five minutes to pick or drop passengers. Do you think this move will help decongest the Kenya’s capital?