Governor Mike Sonko Bans Matatus from Nairobi CBD
Nairobi County government has given a new notice that prohibits passenger service vehicles from entering Nairobi City Central Business District from September 20.
In a Gazette notice signed by acting county secretary Leboo ole Morintat the county spelt out radical measures to decongest the city.
Mike Sonko's administration said it will be enforcing the PSVs ban with the help of police and the National Transport and Safety Authority.
"Maximum cooperation and compliance is expected from all PSV operators to avoid inconveniences and other consequences," reads part of the notice.
PSVs accessing the city centre through Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway, Kipande and Limuru roads will alight at Muranga Road Fig tree terminus A, while those accessing the CBD from Thika Superhighway, Kiambu Road up to Ruiru, will stop at Fig tree terminus B, the notice says.
Matatus going past Ruiru, but branching off before or at Kenol town on Nyeri/Meru-Nairobi road, they will stop at Desai road terminus.
The notice, however, indicates that all public vehicles going past Kenol on Nyeri/Meru-Nairobi road and all upcountry buses on Uhuru Highway will stop at Park Road terminus, while those using Juja road, Ring road Ngala and Park road to access the city centre will have Ngara road terminus as their new pick-up and drop-off point.
"All Urban and peri-urban routes from Mombasa Road and Langata road will use Hakati terminus," reads the notice.
Commuters using Jogoo and Lusaka roads will alight at the Muthurwa terminus while all urban and peri-urban routes from Ngong Road will use the Railways terminus as the dropping zone.
Commuters using high capacity buses from up country will remain at the Machakos country bus terminus.
PSVs plying circular routes will access all termini to the City Centre and Upper Hill while those on diametric routes will use Central Bus Station.
The new move is likely to elicit mixed reactions grom matatu operators and commuters, who are used to being dropped in the CBD.