City Hall revises by-laws to deal with congestion within CBD

City Hall is putting in place by-laws to deal with the growing number of beggars, street families, and motorcycle taxis.

The City Council of Nairobi said it is invoking powers conferred on it by section 199 of the Local Government Act Cap 265 to make by-laws to govern emerging challenges on streets.

Other areas to be affected by the by-law review include the running of slaughter houses, handcarts, non-formal schools and neighbourhood associations.

Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia issued a public notice on the by-laws on Wednesday in line with the legal requirement that residents be informed of intentions to make new regulations at least 14 days before the rules are made.

City Hall’s legal affairs department said the by-laws will be presented for public inspection once they are drafted. Central business district traders and city dwellers have in recent times complained of increased congestion occasioned by invasion by motorcycle taxis and an influx of street families, beggars, and handcart pushers.

The private sector in collaboration with the government set up the Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund in 2003 in an attempt to address the challenges of street families.

They were to be provided with vocational training at various National Youth Service units and offered industrial attachments. The initiative has been bogged down by resource constraints. Informal schools are normally situated in slums and supported by host communities, religious groups, or non-governmental organisations. They operate largely on limited resources and without trained teachers.

Traffic

City Hall has in the past said it is opposed to motorcycle taxis operating within the city centre.

However, it is yet to clamp down on the operators as there is no by-law that gives it teeth.

“Our feeling is that every trade should be regulated. There are no traffic management restrictions related to the movement of motorcycles as a mode of transport in Nairobi. This trend is not in line with international best practices,” said Mr Edwin Mukabana, the chairman of the Transport Sector Board at the Kenya Private Sector Alliance in an email to the Business Daily.

The private sector lobby called on bodaboda operators to embrace self-regulation and professionalism.