MCAs approve plan to lock matatus out of city centre
Matatus will no longer be allowed to pick up or drop passengers in the city centre if a Motion passed by the Nairobi County Assembly is implemented.
The decision is aimed at decongesting traffic in the city.
The number of matatus plying various routes in Nairobi have continued to rise, putting pressure on the designated bus terminuses in the city.
As a result, some end up picking up and dropping passengers at unauthorised points.
City Hall has for the last two years been trying to come up with a solution to the gridlock, which has not achieved much success.
“We are concerned that most streets and pedestrian walkways have illegally been turned into bus stages and parking lots for matatus,” Pipeline Ward Rep Samuel Kagiri, who moved the Motion last week, told the county assembly.
The leader said this had not only worsened the congestion, but had also led to accidents, some fatal.
In the Motion that was passed by the assembly, Mr Kagiri also noted that the allocation of parking, pick-up and drop-off zones for matatus was last done in 2000.