NMS Changes Deadline for Nairobi Matatu Ban

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has pushed the relocation date of matatus from the Central Business District (CBD) to the end of January 2021.The plans have reportedly been delayed due to a lack of funds to complete the construction of the new bus terminals.This comes after the relocation date was revised several times in December and early January.  The Green Park terminus under construction at the Railways club along Haile Selassie Avenue.Twitter NMS had initially stated that the relocation plan would be implemented in phases to avoid a transport crisis.The matatus are expected to relocate to Green Park terminus located at the Railways Club along Haile Selassie Avenue as well as Desai and Park Road.Reports indicate that the Green Park terminus, which is meant to accommodate at least 110 matatus, is almost complete, but matatu owners vowed not to adhere to the CBD ban.The National Matatu Owners Association chairman John Muthonga said that NMS had ulterior motives to relocate the matatus.”We will not be moved out of this city. We have rights like other Kenyans. We want the exercise done in an inclusive manner where our views will be well represented,” Muthonga noted.NMS Transport, Roads and Public Works director Michael Ochieng, however, dismissed the claims.”We are in talks with the real stakeholders, the ones complaining are people who don’t even own vehicles. All serious investors are fully behind our plan,” Ochieng stated.The NMS has been lauded for the implementation of a number of projects since the entity was formed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.Among the projects is the ongoing construction of the termini which is aimed to decongest traffic within the CBD. Nairobi Metropolitan Services boss Mohamed Badi addresses President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 30, 2020, at Harambee House Nairobi while releasing a report of his first 100 days in officePSCU