‘Michuki Rules’ costing economy billions of shillings, says Githae

By James Ratemo

Nairobi residents could go back to standing in buses, a minister has said.

They may also no longer have to fasten seatbelts in public transport.

This follows an observation the measures, introduced as part of regulations to reduce chaos in public transport, are a burden on the economy.

Kenya loses Sh29 billion a year due to traffic jams, Nairobi Metropolitan Development Minister Njeru Githae says.

The billions are lost through wasted vehicle fuel, time, environmental degradation and economic opportunity costs.

Githae argued the problem is made worse by some of the ‘Michuki Rules’ and that changes are in the offing.

"The poor transport mobility and connectivity is a cumulative result of an poor transport system, inadequate transportation plans, investment, development and maintenance of infrastructure," said Mr Githae.

He, however, said the Government had embarked on strategies to improve transport.

In a speech read by Metropolitan PS Philip Sika during the 2009 World Town Planning Day Celebrations on Monday, Githae said some ‘Michuki Rules’ are to blame for poor mobility and accessibility within the Nairobi Central Business District.

He said changes in regulations that would allow passengers to stand in public transport buses are underway.

The ‘Michuki Rules’ forbid passengers to stand in public service vehicles and require them to fasten seat belts.

"This has the net effect of increasing passenger embarking and disembarking time as well as reducing the number of those transiting in high-capacity carriers within the CBD," said Githae.

The Metropolitan Development and Transport ministries are in talks with a view to change the rules to allow high capacity public service vehicles carry standing passengers.

However, the vehicles would have wide entry and exit doors and other requirements approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.

Time spent

Githae said the Government intends to reduce time spent in travel due to congestion by 50 per cent and reduce road fatalities by 75 per cent.

Nairobi has an inadequate transport network and mushrooming slums due to poor planning.

"My ministry has in place the Nairobi Metro 2030 Strategy and has sponsored a spatial planning competition to ensure we receive the best concepts for translating the plan into a spatial format," said Githae.

Nairobi is yet to have a new master plan after one designed in the 1970s expired in 2000.

 

 

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