Four matatu stages have been put up along the famous Kanu Street in Nakuru.
The four matatu stops are a project of the World Bank and are meant to reduce road obstruction along the busy but narrow street.
“I hope the habit of matatus stopping on the roads as they pick or drop passengers will now come to an end,” said Thomas Omondi a bodaboda rider along the Langalanga route. He adds that the Langalanga matatus that use the route usually stop on the road causing other users a lot of nuisance.
The putting up of the stages comes just a few weeks after the non-motorized pathways that had been laid along the street were removed after complaints from vehicle owners. The non-motorized pathways which were also a project of the World Bank were removed to widen the road.
The stages which have been put on one side will serve the matatus from town to the estate. The first one has been put up around the Jumuia Hotel (NCCK) and the next is at Langalanga Health centre. The other two have been put up at Satellite and the final one at Langa Mwisho stage.
“It is a noble idea but I think people will use the stages only when the weather is unfriendly. The people along this route are used to taking matatus from any point and I don’t see them changing soon,” says Esther Wanjiru a dressmaker who has a shop along the street famous for having more bars than any other business.