NMS puts brakes on new PSV slots

The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has frozen any new allocation of picking and dropping bays for public service vehicles (PSVs) in Nairobi.

This follows concerns over illegal allocations of the picking or dropping bays by unauthorised officers, disregarding suspension of the allocations.

NMS director-general Mohammed Badi said the move is in line with his administration’s decongestion strategy for the capital city.

Going forward, he said, such allocations will have to pass through the director roads, transport and public works, Michael Ochieng.

“It has come to our notice that unauthorised officers continue to illegally allocate picking/dropping bays for Public Service Vehicles in total disregard to NMS suspension of the activities to allow review of our decongestion strategy,” said Mr Badi through a notice published in the local dailies on Friday.

“No person or officer is authorised to allocate or assign picking/dropping bay including parking slots without written authorization from Director Roads, Transport and Public Works upon approval by the DG,” he added.

Further, such request for allocation or assignment of picking/dropping bay and parking slots will undergo scrutiny from the committee appointed by NMS to undertake this function.

“Any purported approval granted without following this procedure is null and void,” he warned.

In July, Nairobi MCAs called on NMS to abolish all on-street picking and dropping zones by PSVs within the CBD, raising concern how the PSVs have illegally turned most streets, pedestrian walkways and on-street parking within the city centre into bus stops and parking slots.

In a motion by Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course ward representative Mwangi Njihia, the MCAs said the trend has led to increased congestion and accidents particularly to pedestrians.

NMS, in September, embarked on a strategy to decongest Nairobi central business district by setting in motion a plan to relocate matatus away from the city centre. The plan, which is set to kick off towards the end of this month, will see matatus plying Thika Road route offload passengers at new bus stations at Ngara and Parklands. Those from Machakos and Lang’ata will terminate their journey at a yet to be built stage at the Railway Golf Club along Uhuru Highway.

Matatus plying Jogoo Road and Haile Selassie Avenue will terminate at Muthurwa while those currently using Ngong Road to stop at Lunar Park with those from Waiyaki Way ending their journey at Fig Tree in Ngara.