Matatu Owners Association Chairman Simon Kimutai has asked Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to involve stakeholders in the Matatu sector in consultations before relocating vehicles from the Central Business District (CBD) to Green Park Terminus.
This call comes a month after governor Sakaja said he plans to relocate long distance PSVs to the Green Park terminus to decongest the CBD.
While speaking during an interview with a local radio station, the Matatu Owners Association Chairman noted that the action will be ineffective as the Green Park is constructed near a highway, which will cause traffic jams given the city’s high PSV density.
Mr. Kimutai further said the legislation clearly specifies that stakeholders who will be impacted by any decisions made by a government office must first be consulted.
Therefore, Kimutai says the Nairobi governor is required to involve everyone involved in this decision to achieve the best possible results for decongesting the city.
“Consultation is very important and when we have an individual making decision by themselves without consulting stakeholders then definitely there will be a problem,” he said.
“The biggest problem is the location. Nobody refuses to have a place to do business within Green Park, but the location makes the whole operations be difficult.” Kimutai added.
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Moreover, the Matatu Owners Association chairperson noted that the stakeholders will not agree to the decision to shift Matatus to Green Park without their input at the decision-making table. This includes welcoming stakeholder consultation and allowing them to contribute, implement, and enforce their suggestions.
Similarly, Kimutai highlighted that it is challenging for all vehicles to drop off and pick up people at the Green Park in Nairobi because of the nature of reporting to work and leaving time. As such he notes that there is nothing magical that can be done to solve the issue, forcing PSVs to operate at the CBD.
“The green park now is like a white elephant; it is an investment that cannot be used. The infrastructure is looking beautiful but unfortunately it is difficult to use it and you will not tell people to relocate to that place without consulting them,” he added.
