Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko received a phone call from President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday over the ban on matatus from the Central Business District (CBD).
President Kenyatta is said to have been concerned after watching what Kenyans went through on Monday and made a call to Sonko.
Uhuru then invited Sonko to State House for a discussion together with the Nairobi Regeneration Team over the matter.
To ‘save face’ and not appear like he is being controlled by State House, Sonko rushed to City Hall for a press conference where he announced lifting of the ban.
The press conference, which was streamed via his Facebook page, was held at around 5 am.
“There was intervention from State House. He (Sonko) had to make the announcement first before proceeding to State House with the Regeneration Committee for further consultations,” a source told Nairobi News.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja confirmed that State House was behind the lifting of the ban which had left thousands of Kenyans in agony.
As I sought help over the crisis, I was made aware that a meeting between the President and the regeneration team was scheduled even though I don’t know what was discussed as I was not in attendance,” Sakaja said.