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{
    "id": 196884,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/196884/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 91,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kenyatta",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Local Government",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 168,
        "legal_name": "Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta",
        "slug": "uhuru-kenyatta"
    },
    "content": " Thank, you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The hon. Member for Malava, Mr. Shitanda, had asked for a Ministerial Statement from my Ministry regarding the Ministry's decision to ban matatus from accessing the Central Business District (CBD). According to the hon. Member, the decision has left many commuters inconvenienced, with some having to walk over five kilometres to their places of work. I beg to give the following Ministerial Statement:- As hon. Members are aware, the City of Nairobi has been experiencing severe vehicular congestion as well as an increase in the number of hawkers operating within the CBD. This has frustrated urban governance with negative impacts on business and investment. In an effort to address these problems, my Ministry took the following steps:- (i) Develop the Muthurwa Hawkers Market with a capacity of over 8,000 small-scale traders. Hawkers who were previously operating within the CBD have successfully been relocated to this market. (ii) The development of Muthurwa Public Service Vehicles Terminus with a parking capacity of approximately 400 vehicles. To date, all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) plying the Jogoo Road corridor terminate and start their journey at the terminus. The action taken on PSVs using the Jogoo Road corridor is part of the recommendation of the Nairobi Transport master-plan to decongest the City. Indeed, the Thika Road corridor was the first to be implemented. PSVs plying that corridor terminate and start their journeys at the Globe Cinema roundabout. Three of the remaining five main identified corridors with heavy traffic to and from the CBD include Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, Ngong and Lang'ata Road corridors. The Ministry is in the process of identifying suitable sites for the development of similar facilities for these three corridors. In implementing these actions, there have been certain inconveniences that have arisen. These include commuters walking long distances as well as in the initial stages, heavy traffic jams especially around the Jogoo Road Roundabout. I wish to apologise to commuters for the inconvenience caused by the commencement of March 25, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 363 this new transport arrangement. Since then, I have taken further measures geared towards decongesting the city as well as alleviating problems faced by commuters who have had to trek long distances. Some of these measures include:- (i) Advising the City Council of Nairobi to consider increasing parking charges in a bid to discourage private motorists from using their vehicles and encouraging them to use public service vehicles which will also ease congestion. (ii) The establishment of the Nairobi CBD Shuttle Service which will operate from Muthurwa through Haile Selassie Avenue to Community to Globe Cinema Roundabout and back again to Muthurwa in a bid to alleviate the challenge faced by commuters who use the Muthurwa terminus, Globe Cinema Roundabout terminus and future terminii that are yet to be established. (iii) The formation of an inter-Ministerial Committee which is to be known as the Nairobi City Traffic Management Committee which has been tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the shuttle service as well as other efforts to decongest the city. Hon. Members, if we have to decongest the city and make Nairobi a city that we can all be proud of devoid of congestion and geared towards pedestrianisation like most other international cities the world over, there will have to be sacrifices made. Indeed, the focus is to realise the envisaged 24-hour city economy where there is no difference between day and night, with an efficient Bus Rapid Transit System serving the city of Nairobi. The decision taken by my Ministry followed consultative meetings with stakeholders in the PSV sector in Nairobi. During these consultative meetings, it was agreed that all the PSVs plying the Jogoo Road corridor would comply and my directive was given in that same spirit. However, it has come to my knowledge and my Ministry's knowledge that some operators who wish to be treated differently have not fully complied with the directive. As we enforce these directives, further consultations are on-going with all stakeholders and I am, therefore, appealing to all leaders, Nairobi residents and visitors to the city, to support my Ministry's efforts to decongest the city and create employment opportunities for thousands of our people."
}