BBI signature drive challenge force NMS to indefinitely postpone eviction of PSV from CBD to December 14
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has postponed the opening of a new bus terminus around the city’s Central Business District (CBD) to December 14, 2020 to avert possible backlash in the push for the Building Bridges Unitiative(BBI) signature collection drive.
NMS Director-General Mohammed Badi told Parliament in September all PSVs plying major routes will not access the city Centre from December.
However, The Informer has learnt the postponement was invevitable to forestall possible backlash in the push for the ongoing BBI signature collection.
Matatu owners and operators are regarded to constitute a significant chunk of political capital worthy of swaying to achieve desirable results.
This came even as confusion emerged as to whether NMS will push on with its planned directive to bar PSVs from accessing the city.
According to the NMS, works at the bus terminals were set to be completed by December 1 but has taken longer than anticipated.
The move has not been received well after Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja opposed the planned removal of PSVs from the city Centre. He accused Badi of engaging in “mechanical interventions” to decongest the city.
Sakaja said even though the NMS has a good vision for Nairobi, it is still blind to the reality that matatus are not a nuisance to Nairobi’s transport system.
“In as much as we support the plans to decongest the city Centre, you can only ban matatus when you have provided an alternative for the passengers coming from across the city,” Sakaja, said on the floor of the Senate on Thursday while addressing a looming matatu strike.
“Imagine a sick old person being dropped at Globe Roundabout to walk to Uhuru Highway then to Railways Golf Club to get a matatu to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).”
Sakaja asked NMS to put the plans on hold until they provide a proper alternative for the ordinary mwananchi.
“If you drop a mwananchi at Railways Station, how will they get across town for free?
The green park terminus can contain 110 matatus with a specific lane dedicated to Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
Another terminus at the junction of Bunyala and Workshop roads is under construction and will serve PSVs plying Mombasa Road.
PSVs from the Mt Kenya region that originally terminated at Tea Room, Accra Road in the CBD, will now move to the new Desai and Park Road termini.
The Muthurwa terminus is expected to remain as it serves PSV from Jogoo and Lusaka roads.
President Uhuru Kenyatta established Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) in February 2017 to cover Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Murang’a counties.
Line 1 is to run from James Gichuru Road/Waiyaki Way to JKIA, a distance of 20km.
Line 2, which is 31km long, will run from Lang’ata Road to Ngong Road as well as Juja Road and Komarock Road to Ruiru.
It will have major stops at Dandora, Kariobangi and near Gikomba Market.
Line 3 will run from Githurai through Thika Road to Moi Avenue in the CBD and terminate at Kenyatta National Hospital. Line 4 will cover 14km from T-Mall to Jogoo Road while Line 5 will cover Outering Road.
A few days ago, President Kenyatta launched the Commuter Rail Service, which is expected to eventually link to the Bus Rapid Transport system for efficiency.
A park-and-ride facility will see commuters heading to the city Centre board buses for the final parts of their journeys.
Walkways on the busy motorways will guide placement of initial stations for the BRT network.
