Eight things Kidero needs to stamp out of Nairobi ASAP
1. Boda bodas
This is a ticking time bomb. They have invaded the central business district from all corners. You will find them near The Bazaar (former TSC headquarters), Kenya National archives, GPO, between Bank of India and ICEA building as well as St Paul’s Church on University Way. Slowly by slowly they have annexed several strategic position in the CBD – and their number is growing by the day.
Though convenient for some Nairobians, they are a nuisance to majority as they ride on pavements, which are reserved for pedestrians. They also ride on the wrong side all in a bid to beat the never ending city traffic. With time, the boda bodas will be “legitimately” operating from the CBD and any attempts to remove them will be opposed. The time to act is now.
2. Tuk Tuks
Like boda bodas, tuk tuks have annexed an entire stretch at the Kenya National Archives on Tom Mboya Street. A few years ago, the tuk tuks, which carry just three passengers, were just a few. Today, there are more than 100 and counting. It will also take a taskforce to boot them out of Nairobi if the trend is allowed to continue. Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd managing director Edwins Mukabanah says Kenya, led by Nairobi, is increasingly embracing lower capacity public service vehicles against the best practice of higher capacity. Over to you daktari.
3. Matatu Parking lots
For starters, matatus have annexed the whole of Nairobi from Tom Mboya all the way to Muthurwa. Most of the roads in these areas have been turned into parking lots for matatus. Today, most matatus are parked in the CBD overnight as opposed to a few years ago when they would spend the night in a leased parking bay. What changed? Saccos have organized themselves and after greasing a few people’s hands at City Hall, have been awarded streets that serve as their bus stations.
But unlike other cities where PSVs are always in motion, only stopping for not more than three minutes at one station, in Nairobi, empty matatus position themselves behind the one being loaded. It could take up to 10 minutes to fill up one vehicle leading to a tailback of up to 30 vehicles. Sadly, matatus have started “encroaching” into Moi Avenue, and lately are showing up even on Kimathi Street, outside Nation Centre.
4. Garbage
The once clean city now has littered streets and in some paths down town there are upcoming dumpsites where people take their garbage as opposed to handing it over to collection trucks. There is litter everywhere but mostly where it is not needed – city entrance. The area around Muthurwa is an eyesore. At Ngara, it took the persistence of political activist Boniface Mwangi to clear the dumpsite that was developing. But it is now business as usual as hawkers and owners of business premises around the area drop their waste at the “dumpsite”.
5. Hawkers
Between 2009 and 2011, up to five police officers and more than 10 hawkers were killed in clashes pitting the police and city askaris against rowdy hawkers. Momentarily, the hawkers were confined to the outskirts of the city. Not anymore. Walking along Tom Mboya Street, Moi Avenue and streets further down on evenings has become a nightmare. If the person in front of you decides to stop and check out, a human traffic forms instantly. As a result, hurrying pedestrians are forced to walk on the main road where they have to keep shirking fast-riding boda bodas, tuk tuks and vehicles. More recently, the hawkers have created semi-permanent structures where they display their merchandise.
6. Muggers, pick pockets and flash gangs
In case you have not noticed, most street lights are non-functional. This has reduced several parts of the city into muggers’ paradise. Seeing a person who has been from an ATM being lifted at 7 p.m. near Barclays, Moi Avenue branch is not surprising anymore. And with the hawkers and traffic confusion, pickpockets usually have a field day. And if you are not aware, gangs have also devised a way of attacking their victims. They come running towards you singing as if celebrating a victory. They are also pretend to be chasing a thief. And before you know it, they throw a ring around you and take away your wallet, phone and any other valuables before they run to the next target. I wonder what happened to the undercover police officers.
7. Corrupt police officers and council askaris
Ask any Nairobi motorist and they will tell you they would rather be arrested by a traffic police officer than a council askari. Reason? Traffic police officers at times “listen” and can let you go for free or after you grease their hand with any amount – including Sh300. “But kanjo mnaweza kosana juu unakosa mia moja na pia huwa wanatafutia mtu makosa hakuna. Pia wakiingia gari yako wanaiba vitu usipokuwa mwangalifu,” says Kevin, a tout on route 44. But the new crop of tormenters are the gun-toting regular police officers who start operations after 6:30 p.m. The standard bribe for making a U-turn even where it is not prohibited is Sh2,000. “Instead of looking out for muggers and flash gangs, they hide in certain places and emerge when a motorist has made a mistake,” ranted Evans Kimathi, a driver who was forced to buy his freedom for Sh2,000, sent via M-Pesa (he still has the name and number of the police officer).
8. Street families
Former Local Government minister the late Karisa Maitha must not be resting in peace. He dedicated months and energy towards clearing street families from the CBD. Many were taken to rehabilitation centres while those who had ran off from home were reunited with their families. More than a decade later, Nairobi is back to square one. They usually take over the area around Kenya National Archives after 7 p.m. harassing women and children heading home. The glue-sniffing urchins are back in a big way. In some instances, you find a whole nuclear family –father, mother and children. They have literally grabbed the central island of the Globe Roundabout and turned it into their homes. It is just a matter of time before we see the return of the old habits of snatching a lady’s handbag and tossing it among several street urchins while the lady runs around like an imbecile. Over to you Governor.