Sakaja Makes a U Turn on His Matatu Directive to Decongest CBD
Just like those who held the position before him, Sakaja encountered legal difficulties, with a court order preventing his directive from being enforced. Previous attempts to move matatus from the CBD to reduce traffic congestion, led by General Mohammed Badi, Chairman of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), did not succeed either. NMS intended to utilize the Green Park bus terminus for Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) at the moment running from the Nairobi Railway Station stage, including the vehicles serving Ngong, Kibera, Rongai, and Dagoretti. Simultaneously, those who operate matatus have urged Sakaja to enhance the efficiency of road construction projects within the county. To prevent traffic gridlocks, they urged the governor to plan road maintenance works for off-peak hours.
Just like those who held the position before him, Sakaja encountered legal difficulties, with a court order preventing his directive from being enforced.
Previous attempts to move matatus from the CBD to reduce traffic congestion, led by General Mohammed Badi, Chairman of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), did not succeed either. NMS intended to utilize the Green Park bus terminus for Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) at the moment running from the Nairobi Railway Station stage, including the vehicles serving Ngong, Kibera, Rongai, and Dagoretti.
Simultaneously, those who operate matatus have urged Sakaja to enhance the efficiency of road construction projects within the county. To prevent traffic gridlocks, they urged the governor to plan road maintenance works for off-peak hours.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has seemingly made a U-turn on his directive to remove matatus from the city’s Central Business District (CBD), shelving the plan—for now.
Sakaja, who had pledged in his gubernatorial manifesto to decongest the city by relocating matatus from its core, now appears to be retreating from that commitment.
“I would like to clarify that there are no plans, first and foremost, to decongest the city using that approach (removing matatus from the CBD). The county government’s, and the governor’s, dream and vision is not to remove any matatus from the CBD,” stated Machel Waikenda, Chief Mobility Officer in the Nairobi County Government.
Amidst an uproar from both matatu operators and commuters regarding the difficulties presented by Sakaja’s campaign promise to alleviate congestion in the city, the decision has been made to suspend the plan.
It is worth mentioning that Sakaja changed his order just six days after news surfaced about proposals to prevent matatus from entering the CBD. This ensued after a meeting behind closed doors involving representatives of matatu SACCOs, police, and county officials.
Sakaja had suggested increasing the number of matatu SACCOs as a way to alleviate matatu congestion in the CBD. However, this plan has been abandoned due to widespread opposition from operators.
Just like those who held the position before him, Sakaja encountered legal difficulties, with a court order preventing his directive from being enforced.
Previous attempts to move matatus from the CBD to reduce traffic congestion, led by General Mohammed Badi, Chairman of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), did not succeed either. NMS intended to utilize the Green Park bus terminus for Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) at the moment running from the Nairobi Railway Station stage, including the vehicles serving Ngong, Kibera, Rongai, and Dagoretti.
Simultaneously, those who operate matatus have urged Sakaja to enhance the efficiency of road construction projects within the county. To prevent traffic gridlocks, they urged the governor to plan road maintenance works for off-peak hours.
