After an extended period of leaving their vehicles idle at home due to the high cost of fuel, Nairobi residents have been compelled to resume using their cars because of the heavy rains.
Based on the accounts of various Nairobi motorists, the time taken to maneuver and exit from the Central Business District (CBD) and join busy highways such as Thika Road, Mombasa Road has increased to 1 hour from an average of 15 minutes.
Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) Chairman Peter Murima, in an interview with Kenyans.co.ke, noted that during the rainy season, some Kenyans are left stranded as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) opt to service high traffic areas. This, he observed forces residents to find alternative means of commuting.
"When the heavy rains come, usage of vehicles become necessary. A motor vehicle is a necessity not a luxury. Take an instance of a lawyer, doctor who wants to go from Point A to Point B to attend appointments," he said.
"A vehicle becomes convenient. it becomes necessary. PSVs can sometimes be inadequate during heavy rains as they hike fares. Their operations are also affected as they will operate on roads with most traffic."
He noted that heavy rains present opportunities for criminals to prey on unsuspecting passengers using public transport, leading to an increase in mugging.
Additionally, a spike in road accidents are also witnessed during this period.
"When it rains heavily, motorists have a hard time distinguishing which section is the road and where trenches lie because the entire place is covered by water. So many vehicles end up in ditches because of this," he noted, blaming the government for not providing an efficient public transport system.
Nonetheless, Murima lauded the national government's efforts to deploy Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) countrywide ahead of El Nino rains.
He pointed out that school going children will need to be protected during this period, hence the country needs all hands on deck.
"You can imagine school going children walking on the road alone. The school should issue an advisory and ensure that children have adults or are in large groups."
How Does This Affect Government?
The government is expected to benefit with increased revenue due to motorists fueling personal cars.
However, Murima anticipates that this will be a marginal increase because drivers have devised alternatives such as opting to carry umbrellas and carpool.
He attributed this to the high cost of fuel; with Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene currently retailing at Ksh211.64, Ksh200.99 and Ksh202.61 respectively.
"For instance, a motorist can think: If I take a vehicle and it consumes Ksh1,500 to get to CBD, pay the parking fees, parking boy then it is better to use PSV. There are areas not served by the matatus including Loresho, Karen, areas where there is park and ride. So, in as much as there will be an increase, it is anticipated to be a minimal increase," he said.
David Mulunda, a taxi driver, corroborated with Murima's statements, indicating that they expect an increase in bookings and requests during the El Nino period.
"After fuel increase, the job decreased a lot. We expect when El Nino begins, we will anticipate an increase in bookings, especially corporate trips," he added.
EL Nino
The heavy rains are expected to begin in October and conclude in December. As a result, the government has announced measures, including relocating Kenyans who reside in areas likely to be affected by floods.
These include Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Baringo, Nyamira, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet. Others include Nakuru, Narok, Murang'a, Laikipia, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega and Trans Nzoia.
