Karibu Governor Sonko, now fix this bloody mess

 Governor Mike Sonko and his deputy Polycarp Igathe

As he takes over from Evans Kidero, Nairobi governor-elect Mike Sonko has his work cut out for him I am sick of the hostile environment dominated by matatus, hawkers and boda bodas - Alex Shahonya

Nairobi governor-elect Mike Mbuvi Sonko seems to have hit the ground running; snubbing a Sh25 million inauguration bash (he wants the cash diverted to pay salary arrears for workers), starting a clean-up to rid the city of piles of garbage and ‘lifting’ a security embargo on photography.

And he is not in office yet! This ‘hurricane’ approach, last seen when the burly and combative Karisa Maitha was newly appointed Local Government minister might just be what Nairobi needs. That is if he sustains it, gives it a methodical touch and is not derailed by the nuisance of greedy MCAs who can be a terrible pain in that rear place.

Sonko’s predecessor, Dr Evans Kidero, was thrown out of office for his lethargic approach to management of the chaotic city. Kidero failed to fix traffic gridlocks, clear choking garbage, seal nauseating burst sewer lines and open drains and streamline the chaotic public transport system.

Under Kidero’s watch, the city degenerated into a filthy, noisy and disorganised jungle ruled by cartels. Nairobians, therefore, want change and they want it NOW.

Residents, however, fear that populist Sonko will be held hostage by hawkers, matatu crew, taxi operators, boda boda riders, jua kali artisans and handcart pushers who are not averse to bending the law for ‘business’, in the process making the Central Business District (CBD) a living nightmare.

“Sonko should take stock of issues that are a priority to the residents. Environment and solid waste management, traffic and uncontrolled developments are some of the key areas requiring immediate attention,” observes Henry Ochieng, the CEO of Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (Kara).

According to the 2014 Transport and Urban Decongestion Committee (TUDC), traffic jams cost the city approximately Sh50 million daily in fuel consumption, lost productivity and pollution, forcing companies to move out of the CBD to less congested locations like Upper Hill, Kilimani, Ngong Road, Westlands and Gigiri.

The disorderly public transport system is blamed on matatus, boda bodas, handcart pushers, taxi operators, hawkers and jua kali artisans occupying most of the streets, lanes, alleys and open spaces. But Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) chairman, Dickson Mbugua, disagrees.

“On a daily basis, we have close to 700,000 vehicles moving around the city. Out of this number, 16,000 are PSVs, which constitutes less than five per cent of the vehicular traffic. Matatus therefore are not the source of jams,” says Mbugua, adding that parking fee for private motorists should be doubled to discourage them from driving to town.

For many years, city planners watched as the problems multiplied. It is only until 2014 when a new masterplan to take care of an exploding population was unveiled. Two of the key highlights in the masterplan are expansion of the road network within the CBD and closure of Dandora dumpsite.

 Garbage dumped in the middle of Eastleigh streets

The wish of many is the decongestion of the CBD, with alternative locations being allocated for hawkers and jua kali artisans. Mbugua proposes that, “We should adopt the park-and-drive system for the PSVs, boda boda operators should operate from designated areas, while handcarts and trolleys should only be allowed into the CBD during off-peak hours.”

According to John Kihui, chairman of the Kenya National Hawkers Association (KENHA), his members cannot be wished out of the CBD. He blames City Hall mandarins for grabbing markets and open spaces earmarked for hawkers and jua kali artisans, hence denying traders a place to work from.

“Initially, we had about three markets and open spaces allocated to artisans in each estate. The new governor needs to recover them and give them back to the intended users. Once this is done, hawkers and artisans will not flock into town because they are also incurring extra cost in transport,” states Kihui, who also doubles as the chair of Confederation of Informal Sector Organisations, Kenya Chapter.

The Muthurwa market and matatu terminus opened by then President Mwai Kibaki in 2007 was supposed to address the issue of hawking and traffic congestion. The initiative failed spectacularly with bribe-giving hawkers and matatus operators creeping back into the CBD.

Nelson Githaiga, chairman of the Nairobi Business Hawkers Association, is optimistic that unlike the Kidero regime, the new administration will not harass hawkers.

He says Sonko has promised to protect them, come rain or sunshine, noting that hawking provides ready employment for many men and women, especially the youth relocating from rural villages in search of livelihoods.

“We are delighted about the new governor. We hope he will be sympathetic to our situation and allow us access to the CBD because Muthurwa is not enough for thousands of hawkers. The county government should come up with by-laws that will accommodate us. Our contribution and views cannot be ignored,” states Githaiga.

Alex Shahonya, a dweller and employee in the CBD says he voted for Sonko expecting radical change. “I expect him to strike a balance between my interests and those of special groups. I don’t envisage a situation where I will continue experiencing an unfriendly and hostile environment dominated by matatu operators, hawkers and boda boda riders,” he says.

Charles Kalomba, the secretary general of Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Associations and adviser to the Council of Governors (CoG) agrees, saying, Sonko should create industrial parks from where jua kali artisans can ply their trade without inconveniencing other people.

Hopes are high that as much as Sonko will address the garbage, sewerage and drainage challenges, availability of water will be prioritised. Many homes and establishments go with dry taps for many days, exposing dwellers to health risks.

0nly 40 per cent of Nairobi is connected to the sewerage system. Most of the high-density areas are hardly connected, leading to clogging of channels and contamination of water sources.

With a deficit of 170,000 cubic metres, Nairobi City County Assembly former minority leader, Abdi Ibrahim Guyo says Sonko should explore alternatives to plug the gap.

“The new governor should work closely with the national government and exploit other ways of getting water to cater for the shortfall, especially when dam levels are low,” said the Matopeni/Spring Valley MCA.