Sonko: City to hire 1,000 marshals to effect Matatu CBD ban

Matatus plying Eastleigh route have been accused of blocking a section of Tom Mboya Street. [File, Standard]

More than 1,000 traffic marshals will be deployed by the county government to enforce the ban on matatus from operating in the central business district.

The announcement comes barely a day after Governor Mike Sonko directed that all public service vehicles carrying less than 60 passengers will not be allowed into the CBD starting Wednesday this week.

Almost 200 traffic marshals will also be deployed to gazetted bus termini to make sure that the matatus do not spend more than five minutes picking and dropping passengers.

“In the spirit of inclusion and participation, my administration will be employing over 1,000 traffic marshalls in the next few months and nearly all of them will be drawn from the current crew that manages matatu termini across the city,” said Sonko in a statement.

Minimal displacement

The city boss went on to explain that the move was meant to ensure that there was self-regulation in the industry, simultaneously providing for minimal economic displacement for the operators.

The marshals will also be uniformed and trained to ensure an even flow of vehicles. The new framework will also make it easier to identify those who fail to comply with the set regulations.

Sonko emphasised that it was only through order and discipline that all stakeholders would rid the city of incessant traffic.

“This is only going to be possible if all players agree to co-operate in adopting a new way of operating, especially in the way passengers are picked and dropped, which contributes to nearly half of the traffic snarl-ups in the central business district,” said Sonko.

The governor also added that the ban was a temporary measure before the county embarked on permanent solutions to decongest the city. They include building storeyed and underground parking and expanding roads to include special lanes for county buses with a capacity for 150 people.

No cost

“The buses will be picking and dropping people at the termini at no extra cost,” he said.

According to Sonko, the introduction of new circular routes from Eastlands, Southlands, Westlands and Thika Road to areas such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Karen, without entry into the CBD, would ease the traffic burden.

“We shall work closely with the affected saccos, staff, National Transport and Safety Authority, traffic police and the business community to oversee the success of the project,” he added.

The move has however been met with resistance from operators in the sector. Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai dismissed the ban, saying by not consulting them (operators), the governor had failed to conduct due diligence.