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{
    "id": 583607,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/583607/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
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    "content": "I would like this debate and this Motion to be considered seriously. Traffic congestion is one of the key concerns affecting the performance of the transport system in Nairobi. In 2008, the economic cost of traffic jams in Nairobi Metropolitan region was estimated at Kshs1.9 billion annually, on account of cost of additional time spent on travel due to congestion. The problem has now gotten worse. I have the following recommendations;- (1) Policy brief Paper No. 2/2015 Kibra that was mentioned. (2)Traffic control in Nairobi metropolitan has been wanting. It is now believed that some of the traffic interventions such as installation of traffic lights in most of the Central Business District (CBD) have not worked despite enormous resources being put into them. They lead to even more confusion and more congestion. We have witnessed this and each day it becomes worse. It is recognized that fully eradicating traffic congestion is not affordable and possible, especially in an economically dynamic urban area such as Nairobi. Expansion of roads infrastructure is expensive and has wide ranging economic, social and environmental effects and may, therefore, not be an ultimate solution. The findings that I got and think will help in a great deal are as follows:- Increasing road capacity would reduce overall traffic congestions in the interim. However, this result should be treated with caution given that increasing capacity of all roads by 50 per cent may not be economically feasible. Building of the northern and southern bypass roads has reduced traffic congestion by 11 per cent whereas decentralizing the CBD through creating multiple centres of attraction in the Nairobi Metropolitan City has had the least effect on reducing traffic congestion by 10 per cent. For instance, the establishment of the shopping malls and recreation centres outside CBD; that is, malls along Thika Superhighway, Ngong and Langata roads. Nairobi Governor, Dr. Evans Kidero, has set up a Transport and Urban Decongestion Committee to look into these solutions to deal with this congestion, but they have not managed. The Committee released their interim report in June, but still things have not improved. The report acknowledges the two approaches of reducing traffic flow by increasing road capacity supply and reducing traffic demand. It recognizes various ways of reducing vehicle traffic, for example, road space and rationing; possibly controlling the number of vehicles in the City by the last digit of the plate number during the week days, investment in mass transit systems, for example high capacity occupancy buses, light rail, metro road pricing policy, congestion pricing, urban planning and design . Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Nairobi Metropolitan Traffic Decongestion Programme’s aim is to relieve the present traffic, but it is really far from achieving this. So, we need to look at increasing unit direction, one way traffic movement in Moi Avenue, Koinange Street, Tom Mboya and the rest. An expert has to be consulted. The Committee that has been constituted by the Governor for Nairobi is not enough. I am proposing this because of the fears that people are developing, especially, when the traffic is not moving; you are scared in the car and do not know what is going to happen to you next. As a matter of urgency, to remove the fear from the people and make the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}