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Kenya

Matatu operators given 30 days before CBD ban takes effect

Double parking, making U-turns and noise pollution, Sonko said won’t be tolerated/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 18 – Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has suspended the eviction of matatus from CBD for a month, after pleas by the operators during a consultative meeting at Charter Hall.

Sonko however gave conditions including compliance with laws failure to which they will be removed from the city.

Double parking, making U-turns and noise pollution, Sonko said won’t be tolerated.

“The ball is in your court. Either we work together or perish together. Nairobi is a capital city and people have a lot of expectations on me and others have already said Nairobi will become a slum and you must help me do what is expected of you,” Sonko said.

Acting County Secretary Leboo Morintat issued a circular on Friday warning that matatus will not be allowed in city centre from September 20.

But matatu owners pleaded with Sonko put the ban on hold for a year to allow them prepare for relocation.

The Matatu owners said the directive will make them incur huge losses and won’t end the traffic congestion in Nairobi.

They proposed to be allocated parking spaces for three to four vehicles for each Sacco in the city centre, and holding grounds outside the CBD where they can park their matatus and call for them when those in the CBD have left after picking passengers.

But Sonko gave specific points where they will drop and pick passengers near CBD and leave.

The operators disowned Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai and Matatu Welfare Association’s Dickson Mbungua who said they were contemplating calling for a strike to protest the ban.

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“I will not be intimidated by the cartels,” Sonko said.

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