The government says it intends to use the service to ease transport woes for the poor.
The Treasury will purchase more buses this month to boost the National Youth Service (NYS) fleet that started passenger service operations in Nairobi amid protests from matatu operators.
Margaret Kobia, the Public Service and Youth Cabinet secretary, told the Senate committee on Transport that the procurement of additional buses will enable the NYS to cover more areas.
“The Treasury has agreed to purchase several additional buses...to cover more areas and to take advantage of the economies of scale,” she said.
The NYS launched operations covering nine routes in Nairobi and has deployed a total of 26 out of its 29 buses to ferry passengers at a cost of Sh20 irrespective of destination.
The initial areas covered by the NYS buses include Pipeline in Embakasi, Githurai, Mwiki, Dandora, Kariobangi, Kibera, Kawangware, Kangemi and Kayole.
“The pilot scheme began with an affirmative price of a flat Sh20 irrespective of distance within Nairobi. The charge is intended to initially recover the cost of fuelling without significant commercial gain and focusing on more vulnerable members of society,” Prof Kobia told the committee chaired by Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi.
Uniformed officers
She said the operation involves 61 uniformed officers stationed at the drop off and pick up points, onboard crew and route inspection personnel.
She said the NYS already owns transport facilities in addition to machineries and other equipment that are leased out at gazetted rates.
“Aside from easing the transport woes of vulnerable commuters, the core objectives going forward are stabilising commuter transport costs, decongesting the city traffic mess and restoring discipline on the roads,” she said.
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