A ban has officially taken effect in Kenya promising to burn down calories and delay people from getting to work as matatus are no longer dropping passengers around CBD rather they have been located new terminals further from city’s center.
In retaliation,Nairobi Senator Jonhson Sakaja has moved to court to seek orders suspending the ban of matatus from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
“The move by Governor Mike Sonko to ban matatus from the CBD is premature, and unfair to ordinary citizens. You don’t ban matatus before providing alternatives for commuters,” said Sakaja on Monday morning.
As I said yesterday and before. The move by @MikeSonko to ban matatus from the CBD is premature, and unfair to ordinary citizens. You don’t ban matatus before providing alternatives for commuters. MUST BE RESCINDED immediately and proper planning done. #MatatuCBDBan pic.twitter.com/4SXa8PpTUO
— Sakaja Johnson (@SakajaJohnson) December 3, 2018
In his case, Sakaja argues that the Nairobi County Government has enforced the ban without conducting public participation.
Speaking in Deliverance Church Langata where he attended the consecration of Bishop Dr. Njuguna, the Senator urged Mike Sonko to provide an alternative before banning matatus.
He says the ban must be rescinded immediately and proper planning done.
The masses walk on dangerous roads without safe infrastructure as the privileged drive in air conditioned vehicles listening to music of their choice. The reality of the City we live in: #MatatuCBDBan @Naipolitans pic.twitter.com/aLyK9dMTmf
— Constant Cap (@ConstantCap) December 3, 2018
Sonko has been reminded that he was once a man of the mass by those who feel he has neglected the people.
Sonko was a man of the masses, they said. https://t.co/qJjVxLHwhO
— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) December 3, 2018
Joy Mdivo has also warned Sonko that his votes are walking away with his new move that is overstretching Kenyans.
Joy Mdivo: I hope Sonko is watching what he is subjecting Kenyans to and those are votes walking away from him. These are people who generate revenue for his county and they should be treated like that #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/lz2P9EaqtT
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) December 3, 2018
Sakaja further faults Governor Mike Sonko’s administration for ejecting the matatus from the city centre without providing convenient alternatives, thereby leaving commuters stranded.
Nairobi residents and travellers arriving to the capital early Monday morning from upcountry were among the hardest hit by City Hall decision to ban picking and dropping off of passengers in the Central Business District (CBD).
Besides these groups, traders at matatu termini are expected to make less earnings from their businesses since they rely heavily on the human traffic from passengers alighting and boarding vehicles.
Do you agree this ban will in turn hurt Sonko’s relations with the public that has always supported him?