Matatus are set to be barred from operating in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) starting April.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) says that the Green Park, Desai and Park Road bus termini will start operations by the end of April.
Matatus plying the Ngong, Lang’ata, and Argwings Kodhek roads will be the first to be affected, according to NMS transport and Public Works Director Engineer Michael Ochieng.
Currently, the Green Park terminal is 98% complete and will accommodate between 300 and 350 vehicles at go, and up to 20,000 in a day.
The terminal will serve Ngong, Karen, Rongai, Kikuyu, Dagoretti, Kawangware, Kibra, Highrise, Ngumo, Langata, Nairobi West, Makadara, Kaberia, Satellite and Kiserian-bound commuters.
“The change we are making in terms of traffic to decongesting Nairobi has been done in other parts of the world and it must be done in Kenya too. We must take the lead in East Africa to show that we are able to manage their public transport,” Ochieng was on Tuesday quoted by the Business Daily as saying.
The Fig Tree, Muthurwa, and Globe Roundabout termini are also other points set to be opened, as well as the Bunyala and Workshop Road junction terminus.
Ochieng noted that only three matatus per sacco will be allowed into the termini at a time, with a 20-minute allowance to drop and pick passengers.
Touting will also be prohibited.