CBD Matatu Ban Takes Toll As Senator Sakaja Moves To Court To Stop It

The ban on matatus from accessing the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) took effect Monday morning with dozens of police and county askaris being deployed at major entry points.

Thousands of commuters were left stranded, some opting to walk long distances as entry of matatus at the CBD of Nairobi ban took effect.

Even as some chose to work to the new matatu stages, others could not locate the new pick up points for matatus going their route.

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City Hall officials stated that the provided termini which have 505 parking slots which will only act as pick-up and dropping points for passengers and not holding grounds for the matatus with each PSV given between 10 and 40 minutes at a time.

In the new move, all routes accessing the CBD from Waiyaki Way/Uhuru Highway, Kipande Road and Limuru Road will dock at the Murang’a Road (Fig Tree) terminus A.

All routes accessing CBD fom Thika Road up to and including Ruiru and Kiambu Road will pick and drop passengers at Fig Tree terminus B.

All vehicles that go past Ruiru but branch off before or at Kenol Town on Nyeri/Meru-Nairobi road will use Desai Service Road Terminus.

All vehicles that go past Kenol Town on Nyeri/Meru-Nairobi Road as well as upcountry vehicles accessing Nairobi via Waiyaki Way will use Park Road Terminus.

Vehicles using Juja Road, Ring Road Ngara and Park Road will use Ngara Road Terminus while all urban and peri urban routes from Mombasa Road/ Lang’ata Road will use Hakati Terminus.

Urban and peri urban routes from Ngong Road will converge at Railway Terminus while vehicles from Jogoo Road/ Lusaka Road will use Muthurwa Terminus.

All high capacity PSV vehicles from upcountry will use Machakos Terminus.

Vehicles on circular route will connect all termini to CBD and Upperhill while those on diametric routes will use the Central Bus Station.

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja  has moved to court to suspend the matatu ban from the the Central Business District.

The Senator stated that there ban was contravening article 196 of the constitution as there was no public participation when making the decision.

He also said that commuters were not given alternatives and were left stranded.

“The move by Mike Sonko to ban matatus from the CBD is premature, and unfair to ordinary citizens. You don’t ban matatus before providing alternatives for commuters. Must be rescinded immediately and proper planning done,” tweeted Sakaja.

Below is a video showing the situation at Ngara this morning:-