This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
Kenya's Public Transport Crisis: Safety vs. Mobility ¶
Published on July 14, 2020
Kenya's public transport system has been a hotbed of chaos and corruption for years, but the Covid-19 pandemic has brought the issue to a head. With the government's ban on inter-county movement suspended, commuters are facing a dilemma: choose between safety and mobility.
According to a 2018 report by Deloitte, 70% of Nairobi residents use matatus to get to work every day, with over 4.5 million people commuting through the city. However, with matatus operating at half capacity, passengers are being forced to pay exorbitant fares, with some operators charging a flat rate of Sh100.
Despite the government's protocol for public road transport operations, which requires matatus to establish measures to enforce social distancing, contact tracing, and manage suspected cases of Covid-19, many operators are flouting the rules. A spot check by the Nation found that strict adherence to the Health ministry guidelines was not possible due to structural challenges.
At various bus termini, long queues are seen during rush hour, with no social distancing observed as agitated passengers push and shove. Many are tired after work and want to get home before the curfew begins. The situation on city roads has been like this for the last four months, with passengers footing operation costs by digging deeper into their pockets.
Some Kenyans have opted to use private means or taxis, leading to a spike in the number of private vehicles on city roads. 'It's more convenient and safer to use a cab than a matatu,' said Ms Esther Githaiga, who pays between Sh600 and Sh800 to move from the CBD to Karura in Kiambu County every day.
Elsewhere in the world, governments advise their citizens to cycle or walk to work to avoid infection in crowds and ease pressure on public transport. However, without proper lanes for pedestrians and cyclists in Nairobi, walking or cycling to work isn't a safe option. Cyclists account for only one per cent of traffic on city roads, according to Deloitte.
