Nairobi woke up to a rude shock this morning after Nairobi Governor’s (Hon. Mike Sonko) directive on Public Service Vehicles (‘Matatus’) took effect today. According to Hon Sonko’s directive, ‘Matatus’ are not supposed to access the Central Business District, CBD, in Nairobi City. Passengers who had to alight at Ngara stage found it difficult to walk up to the City Centre. Governor Sonko’s ban is in a bid to de-congest the city. Below, videos and images of Nairobians walking to work, this morning.
Video- Nairobians walking to work, this morning.
Video- A section of Kenyans walking to the City Centre.
But, most Kenyans are not amused with Governor Sonko’s directive. They have turned to Social media platforms to vent their anger on Hon Sonko.
- Hon Sakaja Johnson (Nairobi Senator): “As I said yesterday and before. The move by Mike Sonko to ban matatus from the CBD is premature, and unfair to ordinary citizens. You don’t ban matatus before providing alternatives for commuters. MUST BE RESCINDED immediately and proper planning done.”
- Mumbi Njagi: “Someone tell Sonko, that the city is so messed up, we ain’t mad about walking, we are mad because there are no alternatives tabled. Did his advisers think about security, I swear high pickpocket will be in the rise (and steal from pedestrians).”
- John Ngurugwe: “The biggest problem in Kenya is that people go to bed and wake up with new policies without any feasibility study. Though they may work for some time with Mwananchi paying the cost, they are sustainable.”
- Faith Arimba: “In Africa we think like cockerels, no where in the world you implement a policy without alternative! Poorly designed roads, no pedestrian walks, no cycling paths, no bicycle parking slots, only the poor voter uses PSVs, themselves will be dropped at office doors!”
Nairobi Senator, Hon Johnson Sakaja, has since gone to court to have this move rescinded.