U-turn: Sakaja now allows long-distance matatus to pick passengers in CBD

Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has agreed to meet with matatu owners who were not satisfied with his decision to move their terminus from the CBD to the Green Park Terminus. The decision came on Thursday afternoon during a court session where the governor appeared in person in a case where several long-distance matatu operators are seeking to stop the implementation of the governor's directive. While appearing before Justice Hedwig Ong’udi, Governor Sakaja said long-distance matatus are still accessing the CBD to pick up passengers, and only dropping them at Green Park terminus. The governor had been summoned by the court to appear in person to explain his directive to move some PSV saccos to Green Park even after a court order stopped him. Also read: Legendary producer Clemo nominated for Nairobi Chief Officer’s post During the launch of the terminus that cost the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) about Sh200 million, the governor said his administration would expand the facility by constructing offices for the affected saccos. Justice Ong’udi also asked the governor why some of drivers and conductors were being arrested by the city askaris even after the court issued an order against such action. In his defense, the governor said that the arrests happened before the order and that by now, his administration has complied. The governor also said some matatu owners are happy with his plan of decongesting the city, and will be engaging with the ones who petitioned him as well. Also read: Sauti Sol’s Bien bans Eric Omondi from Sol Fest At the same hearing, the court extended the order, suspending the county public notice for relocation of picking and dropping points from CBD to Green Park. The case will be heard on December 19. This means that for now, Kenyans travelling upcountry for the festive season will be allowed to board at the usual termini. Early this month, Matatu Owners Association chairperson Simon Kimutai criticized the governor for engaging with brokers and cartels instead of the matatu owners on the matter. Mr Kimutai also said that matatu sector has employed many youths and that the governor was wrong to relocate them from CBD.