Nairobi Matatu Ban: NMS Sets New Date After False Start

Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director-General Mohamed Badi. On May 16, 2020, he decried the lack of a budget as a crippling issue in Nairobi County.
Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director-General Mohamed Badi. On May 16, 2020, he decried the lack of a budget as a crippling issue in Nairobi County.
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The Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) has issued a new date for the completion of bus termini in Nairobi to facilitate the implementation of the matatu ban in the Central Business District (CBD).

The ban experienced setbacks due to the delayed completion of the Bus termini which was expected to be done by Tuesday, December 1.

NMS disclosed that it would now open a new bus terminus around the CBD on December 14, 2020, which will facilitate an alternative area for the public service vehicles.

An image of the Green Park Bus Terminus
The Green Park bus terminus at Railways Club, Nairobi under construction.
The Standard

The agency further stated that the matatu ban would be effected in phases to avoid a transport crisis.

Green park terminus which is expected to serve PSVs plying Ngong Road and Lang'ata Road (Kawangware, Kikuyu, Kibera, Lang'ata, Rongai, Kiserian) will have a capacity of 110 matatus.  

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 it serves PSVs from Jogoo and Lusaka roads. 

NMS Director in-charge of Transport, Engineer Michael Ochieng' noted that the new dates would depend on how fast the new termini are built.

NMS boss Badi revealed that the termini being constructed are part of a plan to decongest Nairobi's Central Business District.

"This will promote the construction of more termini to see all PSVs terminate outside the CBD to decongest the city while ensuring affordable, accessible and functional transport solutions in Nairobi which hosts 4 million people.

"The terminus is among the newly designated termini constructed by NMS as part of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development master plan and Decongestion Strategy under which PSVs will terminate outside the CBD," read a statement from NMS.

NMS Director General Mohammed Badi during his visit to Ngong River on Friday, October 10
NMS Director General Mohammed Badi during his visit to Ngong River on Friday, October 10
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