LEFT: Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja RIGHT: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja against making any unfavourable pronouncements affecting the matatu industry.
Speaking in Nyeri on Monday, December 19, 2022, the second in command advised Sakaja not to forget the person who mobilized members of the Kikuyu community in Nairobi to vote for him in the August polls.
He further instructed the Nairobi governor to consult him when making decisions that could negatively affect businesses in the city. “Na nimemuambia governor wa Nairobi tutakaa chini na yeye kwa sababu sisi ndo tulimchagua. Mimi ndo niliketisha Wakikuyu pale Nairobi nikawaambia wamchague. Na nimemuita tukae chini na yeye. Mambo yoyote ambaye anaamua ambayo inaweza haribu biashara katika Nairobi kwanza tuongee tukubaliane,” Gachagua said.
According to DP Gachagua, banning matatus from operating in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) is impossible. “Hatutaki speed mingi sana, twende pole pole. Sindio? Hio maneno ati ya kutoa matatu nini hio maneno haiwezekani. Staki tuanze kusumbua wafanyi biashara,” he said.
Governor Sakaja had instructed matatu Saccos plying the Western, Nyanza, and Rift Valley routes to pick up and drop off passengers from the Green Park Terminus starting December 1, 2022.
The decision was reached after Sakaja met SACCOs and other transport stakeholders on November 18, 2022, at Charter Hall.
On November 28, the Nairobi county government published the new guidelines agreed upon and signed by the Acting Nairobi county secretary, Jairus Musumba.
Long-distance travel operators ultimately moved to court to challenge the directive by Sakaja that required them to move to the Green park terminus on December 1.
The operators said the decision was discriminatory as it excluded some of their rivals.
They added that Sakaja's directive would expose them to huge losses, and would also inconvenience long-distance travellers who predominantly travel with relatively large luggage, especially during the festive season.
The petitioners in the case include North Rift Luxury Shuttle, Madaraka Prestige, Transline, Great Rift Shuttle, Legacy Luxury, Kina 2015 Classic, Sasaline Classic Shuttle, Blue Line, Team Swat and Transliner Galaxy.