Nairobi News

NewsWhat's Hot

1,000 traffic marshals to enforce matatu ban

By HILARY KIMUYU September 16th, 2017 2 min read

Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has said the county will deploy 1,000 marshals to enforce the ban of all matatus carrying less than 60 passengers from the Central Business District (CBD) starting next Wednesday, September 20.

This comes after Sonko made a bold move that will see such matatus drop and pick passengers at designated termini outside the city centre.

“In the spirit of inclusion and participation, my administration will be employing over 1,000 Traffic Marshalls in the next few months,” said Sonko in a statement.

He added that nearly all of them will be drawn from the current crew that manages matatu terminus across the city.

SELF-REGULATION

“This is primarily to ensure self-regulation within the industry, while guaranteeing minimal economic displacement for them,” he said.

All the marshals will be uniformed and trained to ensure smooth flow of vehicles. Under this new framework, it will be easy to identify those who fail to comply with the new regulations, the statement added.

Mr Sonko reiterated that it was through order, discipline and mutual cooperation that the county and its residents shall transform Nairobi.

“This is only going to be possible by all players agreeing to cooperate to adopt a new way of operating, especially in the way passengers are picked and dropped, which contributes to nearly half of the traffic snarl-ups in the Central Business District,” he said.

NOT CONSULTED

On the other hand, the matatu owners have dismissed the gazette notice blocking PSVs from accessing the CBD.

Matatu Owners Association chair Simon Kimutai said that Governor Mike Sonko has not consulted them on the matter and they will not abide by it.

“This ban is uncalled for and very unreasonable. It is not possible and we shall not move even an inch unless we are consulted,” said Kimutai.

He added that if the move aims at decongesting town, it is unfair to victimise matatus that barely make up 10 per cent of vehicles that access town.

He added that there had been a series of consultations taking place even with former Governor Evans Kidero’s administration and these had not reached a stage for gazette notices. He said the county government should consider views from all stake holders.