Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko has announced plans to investigate senior City Hall officials implicated in creating illegal matatu stages for public service vehicle operators in exchange for bribes, according to statements made during a phone interview.
The governor alleged that parking services and inspectorate department personnel have systematically undermined efforts to reduce congestion in Nairobi's Central Business District by establishing unauthorized transit points. He emphasized that these actions contradict both county and national government initiatives to improve urban mobility.
"There are my officers in the parking and inspectorate departments who are dishing out stages for money," Sonko stated. "I have that intelligence and after my mourning period is over, I will stamp authority and take charge." The governor was in Mombasa for family matters at the time of the statement.
City Hall Parking Services Director Tom Tinega confirmed the existence of a cartel involving parking officers, revealing that unauthorized stages have been established along key thoroughfares including Tom Mboya Avenue, Accra Road, and Haile Selassie Avenue. "It has been happening over a period of time where you find the illegal stages coming up every day," he said.
Tinega announced the formation of a dedicated team to address the issue, stating that previous measures had failed to resolve the problem. "We will hold the new team accountable for not taking action into addressing the encroachment," he said. The city had previously issued warnings that matatus operating at non-gazetted locations would face impoundment.
