From narrow and pothole-ridden roads, a chaotic matatu sector that causes snarl up and delays as well as cartel-powered impunity, Nairobi’s public transport has an almost lawless existence. But this could change.
The city’s transport chief, Ibrahim Auma, has published a comprehensive reorganisation of routes targeting matatus.
There are mandatory demands for saccos to accede to before transport regulator, NTSA, can renew their licence for 2025.
The 120 routes are planned to connect key neighbourhoods, business hubs, residential areas and critical services like hospitals, seamlessly.
It is also to make commuting by Nairobians easier, eliminating the need to reach the CBD to catch public service vehicles to other neighbourhoods.
Auma told the Star in an interview at his office that the routes willbe orbital in nature, with matatus not taking return trips, blamed for snarl ups and congestion.
“The current practice is that commuters have to use a matatu from their neighborhood to the CBD and then catch the next one to their destination if CBD was not their ending destination. We want to ensure that if you are going to Umoja, you must not come to the CBD. You can get a matatu to Umoja by connecting with saccos near you,” he said.
The changes, which were published in a gazette notice on December 20, last year, are aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of Nairobi’s public transport system.
The announcement includes the introduction of new routes and the revocation of previous ones gazetted in 2017.
The reforms are anchored on Section 4 (1) of the Nairobi City County Transport Act, 2020 which mandates City Hall to revise Core Bus Route Network for Public Transport Vehicles operating to, from and within the city every five years.
One of the key new routes announced is from Kikuyu town to Eastleigh Section 3. This route passes through Kikuyu Road, Waithaka, Ngong Road, Junction Mall, Adams Arcade, and several key CBD points such as Kenyatta Avenue and GPO, with a return journey using different stages including Race Course Road, St Peter’s Clavers Church and Kencom.
In addition to Eastleigh, other re-gazetted routes include Dandora to Kibera/Olympic, Eastleigh Main to Yaya Centre, Githurai to Kangemi and JKIA to Westlands Loop. Key routes that have been gazetted, including the Kiambu to Westlands route and connections from Kitengela and Athi River to Westlands.
New routes from Kitengela to Ruiru and Thika have also been announced. Additionally, a route from Umoja to Kibera via the Industrial Area, as well as two routes from Utawala to Kangemi, have been included in the updates.
A new route connecting Kileleshwa to Komarock Estate has been introduced, alongside a matatu route from Riruta Satellite to Kahawa West.
Other newly gazetted routes among those announced include Komarock to Highridge, Dandora to Ngumo and South C, Kariobangi to Madaraka, Kariobangi to Upperhill, Huruma to South B and Dagoretti to Bomas.
The reforms are informed by the fact that “for years, we’ve grappled with heavy traffic congestion, fragmented public transport operations and an over-reliance on the CBD as the central hub for bus terminals [and] this has made commuting stressful, time-consuming and often unpredictable for our residents”.
“We’re not just addressing today’s challenges; we’re building a transport network that will serve Nairobians for generations to come, linking residential areas directly to the workplaces and services they rely on.”
The plan also encompasses putting up better infrastructure — bus stops, shelters and dedicated lanes in some areas—so you can travel in comfort and safety.
The infrastructure is inclusive, to cater for persons living with disability and pedestrians to “make public transport equitable for all Nairobians”.
This is in addition to upgrading bus stops, depots, termini and shelters.
“To achieve this, we are working closely with organisations such as the Kenha and Kura to address broader infrastructure needs across the county. In addition, we are leveraging the County Transport Safety Committee to enhance coordination and oversight. This committee plays a vital role in promoting safety standards, addressing operational challenges and ensuring alignment with national safety policies.”
The mobility enforcement unit will safeguard these investments by preventing vandalism of installed infrastructure, ensuring proper use of facilities and maintaining order within the network, he said.
“This integrated approach— combining infrastructure development, strong partnerships, dedicated enforcement, and safety oversight—will ensure the Bus Route Network operates efficiently and sustainably, benefiting all Nairobians.”
And to pre-empt opposition from transport operators who have undermined attempted reforms before, Auma says his department conducted robust public participation and consultation to not only get their consent but have their input considered in the outcome.
Majority of the operators approved streamlining to ensure professionalism that sees all players get registered saccos and level the competition field.
“We want to see all operators transitioning into formal, structured systems like saccos or registered companies. We’re also introducing training academies to help you and your staff gain new skills— whether it’s route management, customer service, or technology integration.”
Auma addressed the apprehension among small scale operators
about being crowded out by established players, saying those who
meet the criteria will be prioritised
when allocating routes.
