Nairobi’s matatu disruption bid hits new roadblock in bus ride-hailing ban

Mary Kibe, a regular customer of the bus ride-hailing service SWVL, is frustrated at the realisation that she has to resume using the ordinary Nairobi matatus after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Monday suspended the app-based shuttles from operating on Nairobi roads.

“Ooh, I can’t believe that now I have to go back to taking the unruly matatus again — one to town and then another to Zimmerman. Having to wait in those downtown queues and then scramble to get onto the bus…such an inconvenience and waste of time,” said Ms Kibe, who has been taking the SWVL shuttles on the Westlands-Thika route.