Its Friday whats your weekend plan? for the Nairobians i suggest you go to the gym in preparation of a tough week or just get yourself a scooter.
Hours after the County government of Nairobi issued a notice that barred Public Service Vehicles (PSV)from accessing the Nairobi Central Business District(CBD),the 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.
Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chairman Simon Kimutai said Thursday 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, City Hall announced that 11 termini had been designated for matatus to pick and drop off passengers.
“The operators are required to take note that the above changes take effect as from December 3, 2018 and all previous gazette notices/letter allocating any other place as picking and dropping areas within CBD are hereby revoked and become null and void as from December 3, 2018,” reads the notice signed by acting County Secretary Pauline Kahiga.
All matatus that have been accessing the city centre through Thika Road, Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway, Kipande Road, Limuru Road, Ruiru and Kiambu Road will pick and drop passengers at Fig Tree in Ngara.
All vehicles that go past Ruiru but branch off before or at Kenol Town on Nyeri/Meru-Nairobi Road will stop at Desai Service Road Terminus.
Matatus using Juja Road, Ring Road Ngara and Park Road will operate from Ngara Road Terminus.
Meanwhile, matatu operators have faulted the county government for the planned CBD ban, saying the new termini cannot hold the high number of vehicles expected to park at those locations.
County Executive for Transport Mohamed Dagane said each matatu should not take more than five minutes to pick or drop passengers.