Sonko changes mind, suspends ban on matatus in CBD
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has ceded to pleas by matatu owners to suspend the ban on public service vehicles in the city centre for a month.
Governor Sonko gave the matatu owners a one-month grace period to regulate the traffic of their vehicles in the Central Business District.
He vowed to enforce the ban if the matatu owners would not have worked out a strategy to manage their vehicles within the reprieve period.
He made the concession after a two-hour meeting with matatu owners in City Hall on Monday.
Among the suggestions flouted at the meeting was matatus dropping off passengers at roundabouts near CBD.
OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC
The governor however directed that no matatus will be allowed to double park or obstruct traffic within the CBD within the one month.
The matatus will also not play loud music while picking or dropping passengers in town.
Governor Sonko further confirmed he will still deploy 300 traffic marshals on Wednesday to ensure free flow of traffic in the city centre.
The governor revealed how he had arranged with the national government to provide 400 National Youth Service buses to provide transport in the event of a boycott by the matatu owners.
He would also have towed matatus that could have dared to block the roads.