Coast tour operators bet on new rules to improve tourism traffic

By Philip  Mwakio

Nairobi,Kenya:Tourism stakeholders in Mombasa have been sucked into a row over new traffic directives issued by the Mombasa County government.

 According to the Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA) chairman, Mr Mohamed Hersi, they are fully behind the new directives, which he termed as laudable enough to decongest Mombasa roads.

But on the other hand businessmen particularly those operating Container Freight Stations, Fuel and Pump stations are opposed to the new traffic rules which they claim deny them business.

 The new rules by both the Kenya Highway Authority (Kenha) and the Mombasa County government stipulates that trucks leaving the port of Mombasa to container yards use the Refinery road and route leading to Jomvu as they transit out of Mombasa. Hersi said that they were satisfied that the new traffic directive had helped a great deal particularly for passengers arriving at the Moi International Airport headed to Mombasa and Coast hotels.

 “We have seen since the inception of the new traffic directive that it takes not more than 20 minutes to reach Mombasa Central Business District (CBD) from airport unlike in the past when it would take up to an hour or more,” he said.

 Hersi challenged truckers to follow rules and regulations of the county government when it comes to traffic rules to ensure there is smooth traffic flow. “Truckers should not disobey rules, adding hat  they are always the first ones to disregard rules by haphazard parking.