These 8 simple steps can eliminate traffic congestion in Nairobi

Step 6: Create peripheral parking spaces – Individuals who wish to use their private cars from home can park at peripheral parking spaces built outside the city and close to the new peripheral bus stations.

Step 7: Introduce toll stations – Erect toll stations on specific roads that lead into the city. These will be used to collect cash from those who flaunt the no-through-way rule.

Step 8: Encourage non-motorised transport – The city should encourage use of bicycles by creating designated pavements for the same as well as for those who wish to walk to town. Parking lots specifically for the bicycles can be introduced too. The advantages of using this method especially for those living close to their work-places are enormous.

Immediate impact of the proposed system

With these recommendations, unnecessary traffic will be kept out of the city as matatus and other personal vehicles will be barred from accessing CBD. On the other hand, the residents will be conveniently moved in and out of town using the rail system as well as the public transport to be run by the county government.

The problem with phasing out matatus has been that it is one industry that has created employment to the youth and by phasing them out, we not only deny the youth employment but also kill entrepreneurship. With the recommendations above, the matatus will still operate ferrying passengers from far flung places to the peripheral bus stations and back.

The matatu owners can be encouraged to invest in the light rail system too so as to increase the wagons and help improve adoption of the rail system by passengers. This way, employment is created for the youths in the transport sector.

Should there be matatu owners who feel that they need to get into town, this can be worked out by ensuring that whoever wants to operate inside the city must have a special license for the same. A not-so-punitive rate, for instance Sh. 20,000 a month or more, can be slapped on such operators. That’s revenue for the county government. In the long run, it will not make economic sense to any of them to pay the fee just to operate within the city.

For the private vehicles, it may be possible to find some people who wish to drive to town. A toll fee of Sh. 1,000 (exclusive of parking fee) can be introduced to discourage anyone from using their vehicles into town. Parking fee can then be comfortably increased to Sh 500 per day. Those who wish to use their vehicles for the entire month to work in town can do the math and decide for themselves. That will be another revenue source for the county government.

A lot of accidents have occurred on Nairobi roads where most of the casualties are the pedestrians. With pavements specifically for pedestrians and less PSVs and personal vehicles coming into town, such accidents will be introduced. Riding bicycles to work will also keep most of the population healthy and therefore save the county more in terms of healthcare.

We can then keep our roundabouts and our right turns. We will not need those drums again, they annoyed us enough. Over to you Dr. Evans Kidero.