Githurai 44 buses parked along Ronald Ngala street in Nairobi.
BY SAM ALFAN
Nairobi County government will construct new public bus terminals in a bid to de-congest the Central Business District (CBD), Nairobi Deputy Governor Mr. Jonathan Mueke has said.
Mueke said the move is aimed at restoring order within public transport service sector which has been over the years marred with rogue habits thereby hindering a smooth co-existence with other city businesses.
He also announced a special committee that will oversee the planned constructions of the terminals to ease operations of the transport industry devoid of confusion within the CBD.
The committee members will be drawn from Nairobi City County, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Matatu Owners Association, Matatu Welfare Association and other public transport stakeholders.
“This committee will stand until the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority is formed,” said Mueke during a press briefing in Nairobi today.
He also pointed out that the committee will deliberate on issues that affect transport sector as well as look at previous reports so as to provide short and long term solutions such as reintroduction of cross city routes and capacity building on soon to be introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Mueke asked all PSVs to submit copies of their permits to the county for physical verification of authenticity by 7th April, 2016.
“Those without should apply to Nairobi City County for issuance,” Mueke said while adding that an audit aimed at regularizing the PSVs operations will be done.
Chairman of Matatu Owners Association Mr. Kimutai Simon assured the Matatu owners that no one will be thrown out of the CBD and that the move is meant to manage transportation and reduce congestion.
“We must play by the rules not cause congestion in town. Let’s take it positively and embrace order,”Kimutai asserted.
Public transport operators last week protested on their planned relocation from the CBD with threats that they would go on strike over the same if they were not shown new designated points.
However normalcy was restored after their leaders called off the strike and resolved to dialogue with County
