By Eddah Waithaka
Hon. John Mwaniki Kwenya, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Nairobi Central, has sparked debate with his recent declaration of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) as a “drop zone”. He vowed to remove all matatu (public transport) stops within the city center.
Speaking in Nairobi, at Archives, Hon. Mwaniki unveiled his intention to eliminate the matatu stages that have long been part of the Central Business District’s transportation framework. He contended that the existence of matatus in the CBD has contributed to traffic congestion, disorderly conduct, and safety issues for the public.
“The CBD must be a modern, clean, and well-organized environment, rather than a site of chaos and disarray. It’s time to revitalize our city, and this begins with the removal of all matatu stages,” he said.
Further, Hon. Mwaniki’s remarks have sparked substantial backlash from matatu operators, commuters, and certain local businesses, who contend that eliminating matatu stages would severely disrupt daily transportation and negatively impact local commerce.
In spite of this criticism, Hon. Mwaniki is steadfast in his dedication to reforming the city’s transportation system, vowing to implement a more efficient and organized solution.
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Hon. Kwenya emphasized that he has not accepted any money nor has he been given any money by the saccos. He said his reasons is because he will not accept his people to suffer.
“I am asking the EACC to come to the ground. Look at what you are doing. The people of Matatu have been suffering.
Every day they are doing the line. When they are given money, they can get these stages. This will not happen again.
Those who do the shuffling, they know their days are over. The days of their 40 years are over. We must fix this issue. And I have seen the governor doing his job today. Many things have been taken away from the town. This is a city in the sun, as you said. A city where everyone who comes here gets security. A city where what is needed is taken away. A city where there is order and dignity.”
In addition, the MCA also mentioned that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is not involved in taking money from the saccos.
