This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 8, 2020, members of the Nakuru County Assembly expressed their discontent with Governor Lee Kinyanjui's decision to relocate the matatu terminus and main market to the outskirts of the town.
During a special sitting, the ad-hoc committee on Covid-19 tabled its report, criticizing the move as counterproductive. The committee chairperson, Njuguna Mwaura, stated that the new termini were 'muddy with poor roads and without water, toilets and hand sanitisation facilities.'
The heavy rains had worsened the situation, exposing operators and travellers to further risks. Despite Governor Kinyanjui's claim that the relocation was aimed at protecting residents from the coronavirus due to overcrowding, the committee noted that most drivers and touts did not comply with the Ministry of Health's guidelines.
As a result, the county government continued to lose revenue, while passengers suffered from the lack of coordination and matatus lost business. The committee recommended that at least two matatus per sacco be allowed to operate from their initial stages at a time to reduce congestion in the new termini.
Passengers had likened the termini to Nairobi's 'Machakos Country Bus Menace', citing the loss of valuables due to the ease of escape for criminals. The committee also observed that Afraha Stadium's pitch was muddy and lacked shades for traders, exposing them to the rain.
