“Matatus and transport trucks continue to flout traffic rules which have posed security challenges and affected the lives of people in the said areas,” MCA Francis Ngesa
The mushrooming of undesignated pick-up and drop-off points for matatus in the CBD has been linked to increased cases of insecurity in the city centre.
MCAs say many unregistered matatus have created illegal stages both within the CBD and in the estates where they pick and drop commuters.
They want authorities to reign in such matatus to restore order.
Tom Mboya street in the city centre has now become a bus stage all the way from Afya Centre to Koja. There is always a massive snarl-up of traffic on the street.
MCAs say most of the pick-up points along the road are illegal and should be done away with for a smooth flow of traffic.
Dandora IV MCA Francis Ngesa said commuters have been forced to alight at undesignated areas as a result of traffic jams, making them susceptible to muggings.
“Matatus and transport trucks continue to flout traffic rules which have posed security challenges and affected the lives of people in the said areas,” Ngesa said.
Ngesa cited the Kariobangi roundabout where matatus pick and drop passengers without any organisation.
The chaotic operation has often caused huge traffic jams in the area.
Ngesa asked why enforcement officers haven't removed all vehicles picking and dropping commuters and illegal stops.
He wants the county assembly committee on transport to probe the matter.
“The committee should also report on the steps being taken by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to ensure that road users adhere to strict traffic guidelines to restore order at the mentioned roundabout,” Ngesa said.
Last month, Central MCA Daniel Ngegi raised concerns that despite efforts by NMS to ease traffic in the CBD, the high number of illegal pick-up and drop-off points were overshadowing the good work.
A report by the National Transport and Safety Authority released in February last year showed that only 272 matatu saccos are registered to operate in the city.
However, there are 420 unregistered saccos operating in the city.
In July last year, the county assembly passed a motion to remove all on-street picking and dropping zones by matatus and bodabodas within the CBD.
The move followed concerns raised about matatus turning most streets, pedestrian walkways and on-street parking within the city centre into bus stops.
In November last year, NMS suspended new allocation of pick-up and drop-off points in the CBD . The move was aimed at ending illegal allocations by unauthorised officers.
Apart from the MCAs, complaints have also been raised by City Health Adpost Express Ltd, Giiv Reality Ltd and Smothers Ltd.
Kenya Taxi Cab Association which operates along Odeon, Tom Mboya Street, Latema junction and Moi Avenue service lane has written to NMS raising concerns with matatus.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai said ‘cartels' at City Hall were still running the show.
“There are cartels both in the matatu sector and at City Hall who are responsible for the surge of “unlawful” matatu stages. The allocations are done on the highest bidder depending on the amount they have to offer,” Kimutai said.
He said the trend was not new and that it had been in existence even before the establishment of the NMS.
Kimutai urged NMS boss Mohammed Badi to involved genuine matatu owners if he wants positive change in the public transport sector.
“Although he has good intentions, it will be very difficult for Badi to transform the CBD into a no go zone for matatus if he continues to ignore the genuine matatu owners," Kimutai said