The Road Ahead: Public Transport Transformation in Nairobi

Matatus are ubiquitous to the roads of Nairobi. They provide high coverage and high frequency services at a low cost. They are synonymous with mobility in Nairobi city. Despite the neccessity of these informal transport services, matatus contribute to lax safety, labor, environmental degeneration and congested routes. This article examines Nairobi’s public transport trajectory and the increasing involvement of government of Kenya in the sector particularly with the establishment of the Nairobi Metropolitan AreaTransport Authority (NAMATA).