Kisumu Locks Out These Nairobi Vehicles From CBD

An aerial view of Kisumu town.
An aerial view of Kisumu town.

The county government of Kisumu has banned all Busia-bound passenger vehicles from Nairobi from accessing the Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the Afri-Cities Conference.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, May 14, Judy Bala, the Kisumu City Planner revealed that all vehicles from Nairobi will use the Kachok flyover instead of getting into the CBD using the Kisumu Boys roundabout.

She stated that the move will ease traffic flow during the international event scheduled to begin on May 17 to 22.

A file image of pedestrians and passenger buses along Moi Avenue in Nairobi.
A file image of pedestrians and passenger buses along Moi Avenue in Nairobi.
File

Additionally, matatu and bus services were moved to the newly constructed Ksh600 million Uhuru business park complex. 

Bala added that the county will also assess the applicability of the move after the conference to better manage traffic in the Lakeside city.

"This plan has been in the works for a long time and we needed to take action before Afri-Cities. After the summit, we will take time to learn the flow and correct it as time goes by,” she stated.

Also affected by the new changes are hawkers and roadside businessmen that have been banned from the CBD during the international conference.

Kisumu county Communications Chief Officer, John Oywa, stated that the county government had deployed county askaris who will enforce the new directive. However, he stated that the county officials have been directed to enforce the directive humanely.

“They have the mandate to arrest hawkers and roadside traders. In extreme cases beyond their capability like the failure of the public to comply with their orders, we have directed them to seek assistance from the police.

“We appeal to the public to respect all county askaris since they are also law enforcers. In case of any irregularities they should report promptly,” he stated.

During an interview on Wednesday, May 11, Kisumu governor, Anyang' Nyong'o, stated that his administration had put up pavilions at the Jomo Kenyatta sports ground to enable traders to do business.

The conference will officially be opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta with over 6,000 delegates expected to attend.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o giving an update on the 9th Edition of the Africities Summit on Wednesday, May 4, 2022..jpg
Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o giving an update on the 9th Edition of the Africities Summit on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
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