New plans to ease transport in city

Transport within the Central Business District will remain as it is for now despite an earlier pronouncement by Transport Minister Amos Kimunya that 14-seater matatus should withdraw from the CBD.

According to the ministry’s public relations officer, Mr Douglas Kaunda, there will however be no licensing of new 14-seater matatus as the Transport Licensing Board will only be licensing bigger capacity vehicles.

“The Ministry of Transport urges citizens not to panic due to the few changes that will happen... The Ministry is not out to create a crisis,” he said.

In an effort to decongest the Central Business District, the transport ministry in conjunction with that of Nairobi Metropolitan, the City Council of Nairobi and the Ministry of Roads will implement the plans to improve transport in Nairobi.

A Gazette notice has already been issued by the minister on the approved plan.

The construction of light rail transit system is also in the offing. The line will run from Embakasi to the city centre.

Meanwhile, a plan mooted to decongest Kisumu City may soon come to pass following a successful meeting between Kisumu Municipal Council and matatu owners on Tuesday.

Deputy Mayor Bernard Odondi chaired the talks during which officials resolved to back the proposal, which they all agreed would be beneficial to their operations.

The plan outlaws dropping and picking of passengers within the town centre. It also prohibits matatu operators from driving beyond Oginga Odinga and Jomo Kenyatta Avenues to avoid traffic congestion.

Mr Odondi said the council had the responsibility to plan for various activities in the town to ensure good relationship between the local authority and the public.

However, matatu owners pleaded with the council to give them more time to try out the new rules.