The Nairobi City County Assembly is pushing for new transport reforms that will see wheelbarrows, rickshaws, mkokoteni, animal-drawn carts, luggage trolleys, and tricycles issued with number plates by the National Transport and Safety Authority and they be registered and licensed by the NCC under trade regulations in the county.
The motion tabled before the Nairobi Assembly seeks to regulate non-motorised transport (NMT) within the city in a bid to enhance road safety and reduce congestion.
The motion, tabled by Kileleshwa Ward MCA Robert Alai, calls on the County Executive to engage the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in developing clear guidelines for the registration and regulation of non-motorised transport operators.
Alai argues that the Constitution of Kenya grants every individual the right to freedom of movement, while the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution assigns county governments the mandate of managing traffic, parking, and public road transport.
“We are deeply concerned that the rise in use of non-motorized means of transport has led to congestion in the city, with handcarts and trolleys being the leading cause of accidents resulting from high disregard to lane discipline by users and use reflective jackets,” said Alai.
The motion further adds that most non-motorized operators being road users, lack suitable road safety knowledge and insurance cover in an event of an accident.
The motion highlights the lack of lane discipline and road safety awareness among handcart and trolley operators, as well as the absence of reflective jackets and insurance coverage in case of accidents.
Under the planned regulations, the move will see the county work closely with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to streamline operations and enhance accountability among users of wheelbarrows, rickshaws, handcarts, animal-drawn carts, luggage trolleys, and tricycles.
All non-motorised transport units will be going forward be required to be registered and issued with reflective number plates for easy identification. Additionally, operators will be mandated to wear reflective jackets and carry operating badges with registered numbers to enhance visibility and order on the roads.
To ensure a smooth transition, the county will grant a six-month notice period once the new registration guidelines take effect.
“This will allow operators ample time to comply with the regulations before full enforcement begins,” reads the proposed legislation.
According to Peter Njoroge, the current chairman of the Mkokoteni and Trolley Association, Nairobi is home to about 2,608 trolleys and 371 carts.
The Nairobi City County Transport Act, 2020, obligates the County Executive Committee Member in charge of transport to provide guidelines for the safe movement of non-motorised transport users, including rickshaws and handcarts.
