Nairobi matatu and boda boda operators have finally given in to Major General Mohamed Badi's plan to decongest the city after holding discussions for several months.
On Monday, November 16, operators under the patronage of the Matatu Boda Boda Operators Federation (MBOF) agreed to the plan that will see them banned from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and allocated spaces at termini outside the city.
Kushian Muchiri, the federation's chairman lauded Badi for including them into the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) plan. He added that NMS assured them of a smooth transition of the process.
"Badi has incorporated us into the plan and assured us that no one will be removed forcefully. We will be allowed time to organise ourselves as Saccos and we will be allocated stages near CBD.
"For the first time ever, there will be no confrontations between us and the government," Muchiri stated.
The federation leaders condemned the Mike Sonko and Evans Kidero Nairobi County regimes for failing to discuss decongestion plans with them. They sighted Badi’s patience and willingness to negotiate as a key factor in ensuring the process is a success.
Riders under the Boda Boda Association of Kenya (UBAK) also appreciated NMS for recognising them and incorporating them into the plan.
The riders will be allocated a stage to act as last-mile connectors. They will ferry passengers to and from matatu termini. The ban of PSVs from the CBD will be effected by the end of the year (2020).
PSVs plying Ngong Road and Lang'ata Road (Kawangware, Kikuyu, Kibera, Lang'ata, Rongai, Kiserian) will terminate at Green Park, known to many as Railways Club whose construction is almost complete.
Fig Tree Terminus at Ngara will serve matatus from Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway, Kipande and Limuru roads.
A terminus at the junction of Bunyala and Workshop Road is under construction and will serve PSVs from Mombasa Road (South B, South C, Industrial Area, Imara Daima, Athi River, Kitengela, Machakos).
The Muthurwa Terminus is expected to remain as is to serves PSVs from Jogoo and Lusaka roads. Long-distance PSVs from Mt. Kenya region and those entering from Thika Superhighway will terminate at the new Desai and Park Road termini where they will also pick and drop passengers.
Nairobi residents will also have access to new commuter trains and the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) buses.
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