NMS creates digital app to barr matatus from the CBD

PHOTO COURTESY : GOOGLE

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has announced a permanent fix to whip matatu SACCOs out of the Central Business District (CBD). – By Gerald Gekara.

NMS Director of Transport, Engineer Michael Ochieng says the app will only allow selected matatus into the CBD, to address matters of convinience, as many more will be directed to the new bus termini around the CBD.

“The electronic system we are going to install here (Green Park Terminus) will inform matatu operators when to send their vehicles to town and when their slot is ready. They will know it from an app on their phone, that from their route, only five or six vehicles should come into town.”

The new developments will be in line with the new Green Park Terminus, located at the former Nairobi Lunar Park that will serve matatus plying, Mombasa, Lang’ata, and Ngong roads.

The park, set to launch on Monday, December 14 has the capacity to contain 110 matatus with a specific lane dedicated to the public service vehicles.

Other termini located in Ngara, Kariakor and Muthurwa are set to be revamped to regulate inflow of matatus from thika road, Westlands and Nairobi Eastlands.

However, the developments are already on the verge of strong opposition by The National Confederation of Matatu Transporters.

Its chairman Nelson Mwangi said that a court order stopping the implemention has been secured.

Nelson argues that the government needs to put in place adequate infrastructure and kick out private cars from the CBD, as PSVs carry more passengers hence more convenient.