Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has taken a swipe at Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over the chaotic nature of the Capital's transport system and the increase in mugging cases reported in the Central Business District (CBD) in the recent past.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Khalwale observed that the Capital lacks much-needed order, observing that public transport is disorganised, a situation exacerbated by increased crime rates.
As such, Khalwale called on Sakaja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to put in place measures to address the matter as soon as possible.
“The Nairobi CBD is choking with matatus, coupled with bodabodas riding in every which way and muggings, at corners. The Governor & the Minister for Interior Security must put any other considerations to bed and clean up this mess & chaos," the post read.
According to a report published by the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) in 2019, Nairobi is the fourth most congested city in Africa.
The report observed that traffic jams within Nairobi cost Kenya's economy Ksh162 billion (USD1 billion) annually in lost productivity.
Nairobi's transport system has in the past been the subject of political campaigns, with persons eyeing the top seat promising to correct the situation as soon as they get elected.
Governor Sakaja who is the third elected Governor of Nairobi, promised to restore the city to its former glory when it was synonymous with order and cleanliness.
However, Sakaja has faced a lot of setbacks that have hindered him from fulfilling his promises.
In early 2023, Governor Sakaja's plans to relocate Public Service Vehicles (PSV) termini from congested areas in the Nairobi CBD to more strategic spots faced stiff opposition from none other than Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
DP Gachagua argued that the policy would affect Mt Kenya businessmen who have huge interests in the public transport business and therefore put out all stops to block the move.
As the situation became a hot political potato, Sakaja was forced to shelve the plan and Nairobi now finds itself in the same position it was before Sakaja ascended to power.
