Drivers and riders blocking pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes will be prosecuted and risk having their licences suspended, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has warned.
Further, the violators will pay for the restoration of any damaged infrastructure to its previous condition.
The announcement comes after the Major-Gen Mohammed Badi-led administration raised concern over continued encroachment on the newly constructed non-motorised transport facilities in Nairobi.
NMS said motorists and motorcycle riders in the capital city have continued to park and ride on non-motorised transport facilities in total disregard of traffic regulations.
This has prompted the NMS director-general, through a public notice today (November 13, 2020), to prohibit parking, driving or riding on pedestrian walkways or cycle lanes.
NMS has constructed new non-motorised corridors along a number of streets and avenues across the capital city with notable ones being those along Kenyatta Avenue, Wabera and Muindi Mbingu streets.
“Parking, driving or riding on pedestrian walkways or cycle lanes by motor vehicles or motorcycles is prohibited,” said Maj-Gen Badi.
“Any driver or rider found in contravention will be prosecuted and their driving licences suspended and, where damage is occasioned to the infrastructure, the violator will pay for its restoration to the previous condition.”
Cases of boda-boda riders and motorists taking over pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes and turning them into parking lots have been on the rise in Nairobi.
This has forced cyclists and pedestrians to share roads with vehicles, resulting in the death of cyclists and pedestrians after being hit by vehicles.
At the same time, Mr Badi has fired a warning to flower sellers who have also turned walkways and cycling lanes into grounds for displaying flowers and seedlings.
He said selling and displaying seedlings and flowers on pedestrian and cyclist pathways is prohibited and anyone having such plants on the non-motorised transport corridors should remove them forthwith.
“Where one is licensed to have such a display, plants should be two metres away from the walkways,” he said.
