Nairobi governorship aspirant Mike Sonko has stated that he plans to expand the Central Business District (CBD) to Eastleigh and Westlands if he will be elected the next governor of Nairobi.
He explained that the move is aimed at easing human and vehicular traffic in the capital city and will do away with congestion in the city.
Other areas that will fall under an enlarged CBD should Sonko win the elections include Hurlingham, Pangani, Lusaka Road, Lang’ata Road and Mbagathi Road.
This will be achieved through operationalisation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA).
President Uhuru Kenyatta established the authority that has remained dormant since its inception last February.
NAMATA was supposed to formulate and implement a world-class public transport system around the city and the surrounding counties of Kiambu, Murang’a, Machakos and Kajiado.
Sonko also proposed to construct bus routes and lanes, remove on-street parking, increase multi-storey and sunken car parks, build four main parks and ride stations to serve private motorists along Thika Road, Mombasa Road, Ngong Road and Waiyaki Way.
“We are living in a private, car-choked city due to failure and chaos in mass public transport system. We suffer low road density and potholed narrow roads in very many areas of the city…” says Sonko in his manifesto.
He will focus on water, sanitation and garbage; health, safety security; unemployment and wealth creation; youth, women and disabled people; service delivery and governance; and housing and settlement.
