Gov’t Bans Matatus from the Nairobi Expressway Amid Rising Accidents

The government has temporarily banned Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) from using the newly-built Nairobi Expressway.

The Ministry of Transport in a statement on Wednesday cited isolated safety incidents and road crashes witnessed on the expressway as the reason behind the restriction.

“Since the Nairobi Expressway was opened to the public, a number of traffic accidents and incidents involving commercial passenger vehicles have occurred on the expressway,” Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said.

“They have necessitated an investigation into the cause of these accidents and incidents, so that appropriate safety interventions can be developed and ensure that commercial passenger vehicles use the expressway safely.”

To enhance safety on the expressway, the ministry also announced that rumble strips will be installed on the road to warn drivers to slow down as they approach toll stations.

Speed cameras will also be installed on the new road to ensure that motorists do not exceed the set speed limit of 110 kilometers per hour on the expressway. The ministry warned that offenders will be fined Sh100,00.

Further to these, traffic police will be stationed at various locations along the expressway including toll stations.

The development comes just a day after over 20 people were injured on Monday night after a 33-seater matatu crashed into the Mlolongo toll station on the expressway, and rammed other vehicles waiting to be cleared at the exit point.

This was the second accident at the toll station after a private vehicle crashed into the Mlolongo toll plaza, killing one person and injuring others on June 25th.