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Nairobi parking fees to go up

NAIROBI, July 17 – The Government Thursday said it would soon increase parking fees and introduce hourly parking within the city of Nairobi to help ease the traffic snarl-ups being experienced at rush hours.

Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Mutula Kilonzo told Parliament that his ministry would also table a draft of new laws in Parliament to replace the myriad of traffic laws that cause confusion among drivers.

Some of the anticipated regulations would touch on parking areas, restricted areas for public vehicles and other rules that would contribute positively to ease traffic in the Central Business District (CBD).

Under the new rules, the Traffic Licensing Act, commonly known as the ‘Michuki Rules’ are also likely to be relaxed to allow commuters within the CBD to stand in buses.

Some of the ‘Michuki Rules’ saw safety belts, speed governors and restriction of the number of passengers introduced.

The rules were introduced by the then Transport Minister John Michuki who made a remarkable change especially with the introduction of 14 seater-matatus as well as uniforms for drivers and conductors.

They were also forced to provide Transport Licensing Board permits plus provide identification including the drivers’ photo alongside the driving licenses.

Mutula told the House that other changes would include the elimination of the Haille Sallasie and Moi Avenue roundabouts which cause traffic jams along Mombasa road and Uhuru Highway.

In his response to Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, the Minister further enlightened the House that the government was in the process of unveiling a suitable plan to ease traffic jams in Nairobi.

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He said a committee drawn from private and public stakeholders had been formed to come up with a traffic management plan and was expected to deliver its report in a month’s time as a short term solution.

Other measures would call for the transfer of matatu termini from the city centre and introduction of alternative transport that would conveniently serve commuters  within the CBD.

Mutula expressed the concern of the ministry that commuters had to walk from Muthurwa to their places of work saying that the new plan targets to reduce the inconvenience.

“The government is constructing missing links in various areas in Nairobi, I am not satisfied that the situation created at Muthurwa is the answer for matatu terminals, this is one of the aspects we are reviewing at this time,” he told Parliament.

Kilonzo said the ministry had already drafted a roadmap for the development of the city into a metropolis focusing on infrastructure, transport, slum upgrading, street lighting, housing, provision of clean water and security.

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