Beginning Monday, only two vehicles per Sacco will be allowed int Nairobi's Central Business District to pick up passengers in a desperate attempt to ease congestion.
According to City Hall’s director of operations Peter Mbaya, the aim will be primarily to decongest the city through ensuring that less and less vehicles are there.
“As you know, some people bring up to 100 vehicles in the CBD at a time and that is why you see some parked along the road and people alighting on the road,” Mr. Mbaya said.
Mbaya added saying there will be an allocation of five minutes for each vehicle to pick up passengers from the designated spots and strict penalties will follow those who do not comply with the regulation.
"it is our expectation that within five minutes, the vehicles will be full.”
“It usually takes Matatus a lot of time to fill up because they are many at Bus Stops at the same time,” he added.
Nairobi County has been considering a total ban of matatus in the CBD but looks like they have opted to lessen the grip and allow a few of them in there.
It remains to be seen how the new rule goes to affect the quest to essentially decongest the CBD. It is a decent move nonetheless.