Bodaboda operators in Nyeri support the relocation of all Public Service Vehicles(PSVs) from the old main bus part to the new Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima Matatu terminus.
Nyeri Bodaboda Association Chair Charles Ndegwa termed the directive a windfall for them since it would lead to additional clients and higher income.
Matatus, plying to Nyeri County, will, in two weeks, move to the newly opened Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima bus terminus, 1.5 kilometers from the Nyeri Central Business District (CBD).
The Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima Matatu terminus completed two years ago, has been out of operation owing to continued opposition from matatu operators and business people at the old bus park, who claim any relocation will greatly negatively impact their earnings.
However, the county government appears to have overcome the stiff opposition after President Dr. William Ruto officially commissioned the Kes 600 million new facility on August 7 this year.
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Ndegwa now says those operating at the old terminus must get ready to shift, insisting the move will greatly improve service delivery and also address the chaotic scenes that have become synonymous at the park due to constant traffic gridlock, especially during rush hours.
“We greatly laud the move by the County Government calling for the relocation of all public service vehicles from the old Matatu terminus to the newly commissioned Field Marshall Muthoni Kirima since this will effectively address numerous gridlocks occasioned by congestion at the main terminus, ’he pointed out.
“On the other hand, the 1.5-kilometre journey from the new terminus to the town CBD will also require commuters to enlist our services, and this means our 1,300 riders who operate within the town have their work cut out, and at a higher cost at that,” he added.
Further, he revealed that only bodaboda riders who have been registered with Sacco will be allowed to operate from the new terminus by the County Government’s by-laws and urged those who are not affiliated with any of the Saccos to do so before the new terminus becomes fully operational.
“We have at least 1,300 bodaboda riders operating within Nyeri town alone, and out of this number, only 200 have been enlisted with Saccos, meaning a large number of our members are still operating outside the laid-down county by-laws. We are now encouraging all our members to get registered as soon as possible in order to be able to access clients who will be alighting at the new bus park as required by the county authorities,” he said.
