Kidero: Matatus will not be kicked out of Nairobi’s CBD
Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has promised matatu owners that they will not be kicked out of the Central Business District (CBD).
Speaking at a city hotel on Friday when he met matatu owners, drivers and touts, Kidero said the proposed Bus Rapid Transit system will not kill their business.
“We are in no way going to disenfranchise matatus (owners) or to make them lose business,” said Kidero.
Dr Kidero also pledged to look at the challenges facing the Nairobi transport sector and to look at previous decongestion reports, promising to implement short and long term public transportation plans.
URBAN MOBILITY
He said the proposed Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) will have five inter-connected lines named after Kenya’s Big Five animals: Ndovu (elephant), Simba (lion), Chui (leopard), Kifaru (rhino) and Nyati (buffalo).
BRT is a high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective services at metro-level capacities.
The county boss also added that major roads leading to Nairobi— Mombasa Road, Thika Super Highway, Ngong Road, Jogoo Road and Waiyaki Way, could easily be converted to arterial roads with designated bus ways.
“BRTs aims to ease urban mobility and make commuting a less stressful experience for the over 2.6 million people currently entering or leaving the city daily,” said Kidero.
