City Hall has cut short revenue streams for casual labourers who flock Nairobi bus parks to offer their technical services in cleaning up the buses, offering garage services, among others. Nairobi county has reduced the number of hours matatus should be spending in this bus park to only two hours.
Public Service Vehicles that defy the order henceforth will be impounded and fine, as City Hall highlighted illegal trading in the form of parking, car wash and garages that have congested the terminus and led to traffic jams on roads leading to the bus park.
“This is to bring to your attention that the above-mentioned grounds are being used as a garage, parking yard, car-wash and holding grounds for unlicensed vehicles. Notice is hereby given to all matatus that come into the grounds that they should leave within two hours, otherwise they will be impounded, ” said County Transport Executive Hitan Majevdia in a public notice dated August 19.
What the county offers the matatus is much much more pocket-friendly. A monthly parking fee for the buses amounts to Ksh 10000, while that for a minibus and a 14 seater amounts to Ksh 8000 and Ksh 5000 respectively. Most businessmen who have invested in the matatu sector find this monthly parking fee much cheaper and affordable and by all means, they would rather make the most of out of the parking space and try to have everything under one roof to minimizes costs. The option of leasing is way too costly and finding space for activities like car parks, washing bays and garages is very much difficult.
