Matatu Owners Vow to Defy Order Blocking them from Entering Nairobi CBD

Matatu operators have opposed the Nairobi county government's decision to ban them from accessing the Central Business District (CBD) beginning Monday, December 3rd.

Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chairperson Simon Kimutai says operators will not comply with the ban issued on Thursday, terming the move as illogical.

Kimutai argues the new termini located outside the Central Business District do not have capacity to accommodate the more than 16,000 Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) that operate in the city every day.

He further points out that the termini do not have basic facilities such as lighting and washrooms to be used by matatu operators and passengers.

“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,” says Kimutai.

Governor Mike Sonko's administration says the ban is part of continued plans to decongest the city.

“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 ban notice signed by acting County Secretary Pauline Kahiga.

Matatus coming from Thika Road, Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway, Kipande Road, Limuru Road, Ruiru and Kiambu Road will end their journey at Fig Tree terminus A in Ngara.

PSVs plying Jogoo Road will pick and drop passengers at Muthurwa terminus while those from Ngong Road will park at Railways terminus. Those from Mombasa Road and Lang’ata Road will end their journey at Hakati terminus.