Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) could soon undergo a major transformation if a new motion before the County Assembly is passed.
The proposal, introduced by Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai, seeks to regulate non-motorised transport such as handcarts, wheelbarrows, rickshaws, trolleys, and animal-drawn carts.
The goal is to reduce congestion, enhance safety, and restore order in the city’s overcrowded streets.
Key Requirements Under the New Rules
If the motion is approved, all non-motorised transport operators will be required to:
✔ Register their vehicles, including handcarts and wheelbarrows.
✔ Display reflective number plates for easy identification.
✔ Wear reflective jackets to improve visibility.
✔ Obtain insurance coverage to protect against accidents and third-party damages.
According to Alai, these measures will help improve lane discipline, enhance safety for both operators and pedestrians, and ensure that users of non-motorised transport understand basic road rules.
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Why Nairobi Wants to Regulate Handcarts and Trolleys
For years, Nairobi’s handcart pullers, boda bodas, and trolley operators have dominated the streets with little to no regulation, often leading to chaotic movement, traffic disruption, and safety risks.
The congestion caused by unregulated non-motorised transport has been blamed for:
- Traffic jams, slowing down movement in the CBD.
- Economic losses due to wasted time and fuel.
- Environmental pollution from increased vehicle emissions as cars sit idle.
- A decline in Nairobi’s aesthetics, making it harder to present the city as a modern metropolis.
City Hall believes that proper regulation will streamline traffic, reduce accidents, and create a more organized urban transport system.
What Happens Next?
If the motion is passed, the County Assembly will allow for a six-month grace period for operators to comply with the new regulations. However, the proposal has already sparked mixed reactions. Some operators argue that these new requirements could be costly and impractical, while others fear that this could be a pretext for imposing additional fees and levies.
Despite the opposition, the county government is determined to push for an orderly transport system.
If successfully implemented, Nairobi’s streets may soon see a dramatic transformation—where even a simple mkokoteni (handcart) has a registered license plate.
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