Economy

Tough rules for PSVs seeking licences

psv

From left: Transport principal secretary Nduva Muli, Kenya Alliance of Residents Association official Henry Ochieng and Nairobi County roads executive Evans Ondieki during the launch of the Nairobi Public Transit Map and Data System on Tuesday. Photo/PPS

Public service vehicle (PSV) operators in Nairobi will have to adhere to tough rules for their licences to be renewed in April.

Transport principal secretary Nduva Muli said that observing city by-laws would be one of the conditions for issuance of new PSV licences.

“The problem of congestion is because many operators only leave the city centre when their vehicles are full. If we find that an operator is not adhering to the city by-laws we will have to withdraw the licence,” Mr Muli said during the launch of the Public Transit Map and Data System in Nairobi Tuesday.

Nairobi city by-laws restrict parking of a vehicle at a bus terminus to 20 minutes with a maximum stop of two minutes at designated bus stages.

Mr Muli said that there will be no extension to the period for implementation of the new digital speed governors and urged operators to instal them with haste.

Planning

“Mapping of the current transit data provides a basis for proper planning and the Nairobi County government will come up with new PSV routes to help decongest the city and which will be used as a measure for issuing the new operating licences,” he said.

County executive for roads and public works Evans Ondieki said that an automated parking system will be re-introduced to reduce congestion from the increasing number of private cars.

“We are acquiring tamper proof fully computerised meter systems from the US and Israel that will be able to take photos of vehicles parked not just within the CBD, but the whole city,” he said. Mr Ondieki said that parking will be paid for per hour via mobile money transfers.

City Hall has hired 800 traffic marshals to enforce rules during the day. However, they work between 8am and 5pm leading to gridlocks during the morning and evening rush hours.