Relief for Nairobians as Passenger Vehicles Get Dedicated Lane on Thika Road

Traffic jam leading into the city center might just be a thing of the past as Thika road is set to have an exclusive lane for all passenger service vehicles.

According to CS for Transport, James Macharia, the new plan will be effective beginning March 5.

The road is one of the six major routes that lead to the CBD and the authorities are looking for ways to ensure that traffic is reduced.

“There is the need for over 900 buses in the six corridors but because we don’t have them, only the Thika highway corridor has been opened. The lane’s demarcation and dedication will begin from Thursday,” Mr. Macharia told the Senate’s Roads Committee.

The move will see to it that bus fare reduces, which will align itself with what the stakeholders had proposed; that the amount from the city center to Githurai should be lowered to 40 shillings during peak hours.

This comes as a rescue to a situation where rains bring endless traffic jams to Nairobi that often causes delays and other passengers opting to trek their way home. Traffic is still a menace in the city and apart from the new lane dedication for its reduction, the move will also encourage the entry of high-capacity vehicles into the city.

The high-capacity buses built in the style of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT will soon be introduced by the National Youth Service to complement the 24 serving nine routes.

The Transport department has engaged the Treasury and an agreement has been made to bring the right BRT buses into the city, noted Mr. Macharia.

On March 4, Joseph Boinet, the Inspector-General of Police confirmed that specific lanes for the dedication of PSVs have been mapped.

The move will finally bring to life a plan that had been debated about for years. However, the Matatu Owners Association raised some protests about the initiative but the Senate is yet to give its approval.