President Kenyatta's Team Wants Wednesdays and Fridays Declared Car-Free Days in Nairobi CBD

President Kenyatta's team has made a proposal to block private motorists from entering Nairobi's central business district for two days every week, in a move aimed at easing traffic congestion in the Kenyan capital.

The Nairobi Regeneration Committee, which was constituted by President Kenyatta to oversee the restoration of the city to its former glory, proposed that Wednesdays and Saturdays be declared car-free days. During the two days, private cars will not access the city centre and Westlands in a de-congestion drive.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, who is a member of the regeneration committee, said the move will address the traffic menace in Nairobi before permanent solutions are made.

The team consists of officials drawn from both the national government and county government of Nairobi and is chaired by Governor Mike Sonko and Tourism CS Najib Balala. It reports directly to President Uhuru.

Nairobi County Executive for Roads, Transport, and Infrastructure Mohammed Dagane said the move would also inculcate the culture of using public transport among city residents.

“We need to shift from the idea of using our own vehicles coming to town every day because you find more than three million of cars coming to the city centre and each of them is not carrying more than one passenger,” said the CEC in an interview with a local media house. He also noted that the proposal would also reduce environmental pollution.