- NMS announced a postponement on Monday evening, saying PSV operators requested for more time.
- Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai says the decongestion plan had not been well-thought
Image: WILFRED NYANGERESI
The second postponement of the Green Park bus terminus opening has continue to raise eyebrows as talks with PSV operators continue.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services had announced that the Sh250 million bus terminal would start operations on Tuesday.
However, NMS on Monday evening announced a postponement, saying the matatu operators requested for more time.
“NMS wishes to notify the public that the operationalisation of the Green Park Bus Terminal that was set to commence on May 24, 2022 has been postponed following a request for time extension by PSV operators. The new date will be duly communicated,” the notice read in part.
The reopening has stalled despite President Uhuru Kenyatta inspecting it thrice last year, ahead of the commissioning.
Green Park is among six other termini that NMS has set up for Sh350 million to be official pick up and drop off points once matatus are barred from the Central Business District.
Others include Desai, Park road, Ladhies Muthurwa, Fig Tree terminus and Bunyala-Workshop Road.
But Green Park is the biggest and will host matatus plying Ngong Road and Lang’ata routes.
The first attempt to open the terminal was in December 2020, where NMS announced it was ready but went on to postponed it.
According to NMS director general Mohammed Badi, construction designs and consultation with stakeholders were among some of the challenges that caused delay in completion of the terminus.
Matatu owners faulted NMS for failing to consult them on the matter.
They complained that the decongestion plan was hurried and lack of consultation meant the project was destined for 'an epic failure'.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai said the decongestion plan had not been well-thought and the test run before official opening of the terminus proved it.
He said government ought to have addressed key issues like where the PSVs will be waiting after they drop off passengers.
“We support any attempt that will make this city a better place. However, we should look at some of the teething problems," Kimutai said.
"As we speak, they want to start with Ngong Road but they are not telling us where matatus such as City Hoppa will be waiting. We are worried that this project may end up benefiting a few."
Once operational, the terminal has a capacity to accommodate 20,000 matatus daily and at least 100 at any given time
As part of the regulations by NMS, all vehicles using the terminal will have a maximum of 20 minutes to drop and pick up passengers and only three matatus per sacco will be allowed at any given point.
Kimutai said having only seven termini to cater for more than 20,000 matatus in Nairobi is "a joke" as they would require holding grounds as they wait for commuters.
“NMS should go back to the drawing board and consider involving stakeholders for proper planning, if they want their plan to succeed,” Kimutai said.
NMS had earlier said the delay had been occasioned by the construction of the Expressway.
Also the feedback from the test run is said to have caused further delay as some issues had to be fixed.
In preparedness, NMS last year conducted three test runs to identify challenges and loopholes.
The first test run on April 27, 2021, was filled with confusion and frustrations.
The three-hour test run, which commenced at 6am was aimed to observe how matatus will drop off commuters at the terminal.
The second one was on May 28, 2021, in the evening from 3pm to 6pm to test the picking up of commuters.
After the second test run NMS had said some adjustments in terms Covid-19 safety measures and furniture to ensure matatus are not damaged while making a U turn to drop off passengers had to be done.
The third one was on June 17, 2021 from 5am to 9pm.
Matatu Welfare Association chairman Dickson Mbugua said Green Park can only hold 200 matutus, yet the Ngong route has over 1,000 vehicles
He said there are no enough drop-off points as commuters would collide with vehicles.
"There is also no connection between the terminus and the city centre. Not everyone can walk to their places of work. I don’t know if they will dig an underpass or construct an overpass to address this,” Mbugua said.
With the August 9 general election coming up, NMS tenure ends in November and it is still not clear whether the terminus will be operational by that time or not.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)