Kenya Railways in row with City Hall over terminus use
Matatu operators read a copy of the public notice on the management and improvement of Nairobi’s Railway PSV terminus on October 30, 2012. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
KRC wants matatus to access the terminus for not more than 40 minutes per trip as well as outlaw hawking, touting, and washing of vehicles.
KRC now says that the council has failed to meet its part of the agreement, forcing it to consider filing a suit.
Operators who fail to comply with the rules face a fine not exceeding Sh2,000 for a first offence or imprisonment of up to six months.
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is locked in a dispute with City Hall over failure to limit matatu operators at Nairobi’s Railway bus terminus.
KRC wants matatus to access the terminus for not more than 40 minutes per trip as well as outlaw hawking, touting, and washing of vehicles.
On October 30, the two institutions gave operators a two-week notice warning of the coming into force of a new law which has the approval of the Transport Licensing Board and the Matatu Owners Association.
KRC now says that the council has failed to meet its part of the agreement, forcing it to consider filing a suit.
“We are seriously considering compelling the council to implement the law since it seems unable or unwilling to do so,” said KRC managing director Nduva Muli.
“Even after several attempts to request City Hall to kick-start the process, chaos at the station are still the order of the day. They are turning a blind eye due to pressure from people with business interests at the terminus who want to maintain the status quo,” he said.
Attempts to get a response from the Town Clerk, Tom Odongo, were unsuccessful as mobile phone inquiries went answered.
To implement the timed-access rule, manual and automated barriers were to be installed from which operators would buy stickers with a 40 minute lifespan.
KRC expects the new rules to reduce congestion at the railway station by ensuring that matatus do not use the nearby terminus as a parking bay as they await their turn to load passengers.
KRC said the new rules would offer train passengers a conducive environment.
City Hall, through a November notice, said it would implement the City Council of Nairobi (Matatu Termini) By-Laws 2007 that allow it to give external bodies (KRC in this case) power to operate matatu termini.
Commuters who ply the Wanyee, Ngong, Karen, Ongata Rongai, and Kiserian routes will be affected by the new rules.
Operators who fail to comply with the rules face a fine not exceeding Sh2,000 for a first offence or imprisonment of up to six months.
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