Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced plans to introduce light trains and city shuttles in a new move aimed at addressing the traffic menace within the city.
Speaking during a town hall meeting on Monday, January 30, Sakaja revealed that there were plans to make a number of changes in the sector in 2023 alongside the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheduled rollout.
The governor expressed that the changes would see the city have a mass transit system that will be efficient for the residents.
"We have a plan that fits across the different sectors, we have the BRT, the light rail, shuttles and bodaboda. By the end of this year, we shall see massive changes.
"These things are not done instantly but we will launch different projects as we come along," the governor affirmed.
In particular, he noted that city shuttles would be used to transport people from various designated matatu stages into the Central Business District (CBD) with the project to be undertaken under Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
This follows the directive to move long-distance vehicles outside the CBD to stages such as the Green Park bus terminus.
"We have had discussions with over 450 Saccos of Matatus and agreed on relocating some of them outside the CBD and while doing that, creating alternatives.
"For instance, If I drop you off at Fig Tree, there must be shuttles that bring you into town" he stated.
Further, Sakaja divulged that the county was planning on procuring electric buses as it had been included in the budget. The buses are set to be used for the BRT project.
Nonetheless, he noted that there was resistance to effecting some of the changes maintaining that the changes would improve the traffic flow in the city.
The governor explained that the changes would make the city more attractive to investors and other people looking to come to Kenya.
"God had gifted us in terms of geography, you can get to London in eight hours and Dubai in five hours, and then you come and get in traffic for four hours," he stated
