The Nakuru Town Matatu stakeholders are working on a formula to decongest the town before the end of the year.
While meeting at Old Town Hall with representatives from the County Government and local leaders, the Nakuru matatu sector leaders said they will be meeting weekly for the next four weeks to work out the modalities.
The Friday morning one-hour meeting came after enforcement officers from the Nakuru County Government confiscated signboards belongings some of the matatus operating within the CBD.
The confiscation of the signboards came a few days after residents raised a hue and cry with the proliferation of matatu stages within the main streets within the CBD. Business owners have been complaining about their businesses being blocked and other motorists say there is no longer parking space in most streets as matatus have taken over.
Addressing the gathering, Biashara Ward representative MCA Wanyaguthie said that although he emphasized with the matatu stakeholders, they also had a responsibility to ensure they observed the laid down laws.
“Although I speak on your behalf, we must also admit that some of you have broken the law and this has to change. We, therefore, need to come up with a formula to move the matatus out of the CBD and decongest the town.
An enforcement officer Mr Sifuna said although his orders had been to confiscate signboards from 12 newly established matatu stages which were operating within the town streets, he had acted on all matatus operating within Town.
“Some of these matatu Saccos have been allocated four to six parking lots but they end up taking much more space thus congesting the town and denying the county revenue in parking fees,” said Sifuna.
Under the new arrangement, only a few vehicles will be at the stage at any given time with the others being parked outside the town.
The stakeholders, local MCAs and representatives from the county government will be meeting every Friday afternoon for the next four weeks at the Old Town Hall to work out the relocation formula.
However, the matatu operators were adamant that they would not agree to a total relocation from town and would embark on demonstrations even it came to that.
Share thoughts