Traffic Police in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Thursday had an agreement that will lead to the introduction of a digital system that will reduce traffic in Nairobi.
According to NASA, the Intelligent Transport System introduced will relay video footage to a central command center thereby controlling traffic lights remotely by personnel.
Nairobi County traffic officer, Peter Ndungu, has welcomed this move as he stated that often, the public do not understand what their duties are and regard them as a nuisance.
[caption caption="Traffic lights in Nairobi City"]
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“Our traffic management are archaic, outdated because we have no traffic lights, we use personnel," mentioned Officer Ndungu.
This move was stimulated after Nairobi was listed among the cities with the worst traffic snarl ups which costs the economy an estimated Sh50 Million shillings daily, in lost productivity, pollution and fuel wastage.
“The current traffic lighting system is not properly synchronized and therefore you cannot be able to tell from the control room which areas you can be able to release more traffic because of the poor connectivity. But we considering addressing that challenge with Corporation of Development Partners (World Bank) and so that we fix it,” Martin Eshiwani, Ministry of Transport Deputy Secretary stated.
Currently the Ministry is carrying a test run on the system along Ngong’ road.
The installation of the system will heavily cut down on the number of the traffic police on the roads.
On Thursday, the Ethics and Anti-Corrupton Commission was requested by matatu owners to probe the lifestyles and bank account audit of traffic officers.
Matatu Association chair Simon Kimutai accused police of enriching themselves by demanding bribes rather than ensuring law and order on roads.
[caption caption="Traffic Police"]
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"They even have the audacity to establish kangaroo courts to heftily fine our members. They have agreed with some judges that every Sh3,000 they collect is shared equally. This must stop," he asserted.
