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Ban on matatus from parking in CBD stays, Kidero says

Speaking at City Hall, Governor Kidero emphasised the need for order and sanity and pointed out that the initiative will de-congest the city centre/FILE

Speaking at City Hall, Governor Kidero emphasised the need for order and sanity and pointed out that the initiative will de-congest the city centre/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 31 – Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero says the directive barring Public Service Vehicles from parking in the Central Business District stands despite a meeting scheduled for Friday with matatu operators.

Speaking at City Hall, Governor Kidero emphasised the need for order and sanity and pointed out that the initiative will de-congest the city centre.

While stating that he was just enforcing a by-law which was already in existence, Kidero pointed out that the PSVs will not be allowed to run roughshod at the expense of the city’s development.

“What we have seen is a proliferation of fake permits. People park everywhere. They park on pavements, they park inside shops, they park at the entrance of every building, you go down to Tom Mboya Street, Luthuli Avenue, Mfangano Street, Accra road, Latema roads do not exist anymore because of these Public Service Vehicles,” he regretted.

He further pointed out that tough action will be taken against any county official who engages in corruption after it was revealed that only 12,000 PSVs out of 30,000 had genuine permits.

“We have about 55 cases of corruption in court. We have about 30,000 public vehicles in Nairobi but only 12,000 are paying so we are going to know which of those permits are genuine and which ones are fake,” he said.

“When we find that there are culpable people in the issuance of those permits action will be taken and they are going to take responsibility for the action,” he warned.

The strike planned by the matatu operators in Nairobi on Thursday was called off after an appeal by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.

On Wednesday, police lobbed teargas to disperse rowdy matatu operators who had blocked roads in downtown Nairobi ahead of the planned strike to protest parking license cancellations.

Matatu Welfare Association Chairman Dickson Mbugua told Capital FM News that they put off the strike after promising discussions with the CS.

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He stated that they agreed to a meeting with Macharia, his Interior Security counterpart Joseph Nkaissery and City Hall officials Friday, to resolve the parking licensing grievances.

The matatu operators held consultative meetings on Thursday to plan their agenda but the environment was charged as many heckled the MWA chairman, accusing him of prematurely calling off the strike.

Mbugua stated that reason prevailed in the long run and they will await the meeting with Macharia to resolve the issue.

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