The KRC seeks to rehabilitate Nairobi’s commuter rail sector, with ambitious plans to lay new railway lines, refurbish wagons and build new stations.
Apart from the Syokimau Station that is awaiting presidential commissioning, three other new railway stations are to be built in Makadara estate, Mombasa Road’s Imara Daima whose construction is ongoing and Nairobi’s Moi Avenue.
Matatus operating from the Kenya Railways bus terminus face new restrictions from next week in measures aimed at decongesting the vicinity of Nairobi’s only railway station.
From Monday, the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) said, matatus would only be let in for up to 40 minutes —and only after getting passes from manual or automated barriers.
Additionally, all PSV crew will be required to wear their official uniforms at all times and be members of route committees while hawking, washing of cars and touting has been outlawed.
“The major reason that there is congestion at the Railways terminus is because most matatus unfortunately use it as a parking point,” said KRC managing director Nduva Muli. City by-laws prohibit PSVs from staying at a terminus for more than 40 minutes” The corporation is implementing the measures in conjunction with the Transport ministry and City Council of Nairobi (CCN).
“We cannot have train passengers arriving from stations such as Syokimau alighting to bad experiences at the terminus,” Mr Muli added.
Operators, and by extension passengers, expected to be most affected by the new regulations include those who ply Wanyee, Ngong, Karen, Ongata Rongai and Kiserian routes.
KRC said the new rules were backed by the Traffic Act and the CCN (Matatu Termini) By-Laws 2007.
Clause 10 of the CCN by-laws empowers City Hall to give authority to external bodies to operate a city matatu terminus.
Drivers and conductors who fail to comply with the new rules now face a fine not exceeding Sh2,000 for a first offence ( or imprisonment for a maximum of six months) and a fine not exceeding Sh3,000 (or imprisonment for a maximum of nine months) for subsequent offences.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Simon Kimutai, however, said restricting the number of vehicles allowed into the terminus would cause discontent in the industry.
Under the new regulations, operators are required to look for alternative holding grounds for vehicles waiting to access the terminus.
“It is almost impossible to secure alternative land especially given the fact that the station is already congested. This clause should be implemented carefully so as not to destabilise the operators,” Mr Kimutai said.
The KRC seeks to rehabilitate Nairobi’s commuter rail sector, with ambitious plans to lay new railway lines, refurbish wagons and build new stations.
Apart from the Syokimau Station that is awaiting presidential commissioning, three other new railway stations are to be built in Makadara estate, Mombasa Road’s Imara Daima whose construction is ongoing and Nairobi’s Moi Avenue.
