The newly-constructed Green Park matatu terminus in Nairobi. NMS will introduce a digital queuing system and smart cameras in termini as part of an ambitious plan to bring to an end matatu madness in the capital city.
| Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media GroupNairobi
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How NMS plans to tame matatu madness in the city
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) will introduce a digital queuing system and smart cameras in termini as part of an ambitious plan to bring to an end matatu madness in the capital city.
The plan will also see police posts established within the termini to ensure enforcement.
Nairobi termini have gained notoriety for being dens of gangs posing as touts and pickpockets who harass passengers besides preying on unsuspecting commuters.
To streamline the sector, the digital queuing system will control how public service vehicles (PSVs) operate in the termini to ensure controlled picking and dropping of passengers.
The cameras, on the other hand, will help in digitally monitoring whatever goes on at the termini.
The Park Road bus terminus in Ngara constructed by NMS.
Six bus parks
NMS is currently building six out-of-city centre bus termini. They include Green Park, Desai, Park Road, Fig Tree, Muthurwa, and one at the junction of Bunyala and Workshop roads.
Already, NMS is in the process of contracting a firm in a government-to-government contract to roll out the plan.
NMS boss Maj Gen Mohamed Badi said the smart cameras will be linked to operation centres at the police headquarters and NMS offices to monitor every action in the bus termini.
Designated officers will also be put in the operation centres to keep watch.
Green Park bus terminus in Nairobi on March 16, 2021.
Queuing system
“Let’s say you are driving from Ngong Road, as the bus comes to the terminus in town, the officers at the operational centre will be able to see that bus coming and will arrange how the matatu will come and drop passengers by automatically putting it in the queuing system,” said Mr Badi.
“That helps in ensuring PSVs are disciplined in terms of picking and dropping passengers, leading to law and order in the termini,” he added.
Mr Jimal Ibrahim, the chairman of the Association of Matatu Operators at the Green Park bus terminus on March 16, 2021.
Every matatu sacco will further be asked to nominate a representative to sit in the operations room to take ownership when its members misbehave.
The Green Park bus terminus, one of of five new termini constructed by NMS in Nairobi.
To control matatu chaos caused by touting, last week, NMS Director for Transport and Public Works Michael Ochieng said no touting will be allowed in the modern termini as technology will take over where an electronic board will control the movement of the PSVs.
The matatus will be required to queue according to their saccos, and drivers will follow directions from the screens mounted at each terminus.
Mr Badi said the plan will also help in reducing crimes committed within Nairobi as every street and terminus will be under surveillance.
“The police officers in the bus termini police posts will be charged with enforcement to restore law and order across the city,” said Mr Badi.
