Every day, thousands of Nairobi commuters experience serious frustration aboard public service vehicles. After fighting traffic on Thika Road, Mombasa Road, Ngong Road or Waiyaki Way, buses finally reach the Central Business District (CBD). From here, the buses slowly crawl forward for eternity because of serious traffic gridlocks. Impatient passengers begin mauling the bus exit door, with some asking the conductor to let them alight and walk the remaining distance.
Vigilant touts intercept them at the door, telling them “Ngoja Kidogo”, urging them to be patient. That “little while” can easily stretch into 30 minutes or even an hour during peak traffic. It then appears as though the crew is deliberately inconveniencing people.
Accounts from matatu operators suggest that what happens inside Nairobi CBD is driven by a complex mix of traffic management, unofficial payments, and survival tactics that most passengers never see.
Why Matatus Won’t Let You Out Easily in Nairobi CBD
Matatu crews operating routes into Nairobi CBD allude to enforcement as one of the major challenges when it comes to dropping off passengers. Stopping at the wrong place, even for a few seconds, can attract unnecessary costs to the crew.
KenyaScoop.com has heard claims within the matatu fraternity alleging that crews sometimes make small cash payments to facilitate access to certain roads, drop-off points, convenient U-turns and PSV parking areas in the CBD. The amounts mentioned include about KES 100 for some of these activities and approximately KES 200 for certain parking spots, popularly known as mashimo. KenyaScoop has not independently verified these claims or established whether the payments are officially sanctioned.
Why crews choose to pay
According to crews, by declining to comply, you risk having your vehicle impounded, which can trigger significantly higher expenses, including:
- Towing charges.
- Daily storage fees.
- Lost business while the vehicle remains off the road.
For a vehicle expected to generate income every day to meet loan repayments, SACCO obligations, fuel costs and staff wages, even a single day’s downtime can be extremely costly. Many operators therefore view the smaller cash payments as the cheaper option, even if they disagree with them.
A bus conductor may, therefore, refuse to open the door because stopping in the wrong location could expose the crew to enforcement action. Instead, the vehicle keeps inching forward until it reaches what the crew considers a “safe” point to offload passengers. Ironically, passengers often assume the crew is simply trying to delay them unnecessarily.
Matatu crews say the cost of operating in Nairobi CBD has increased sharply in recent years, but they have little room to protest. Many drivers and conductors work on daily earnings, and vehicle owners often have bank loans to service. Industrial action becomes difficult because every day without operations means income is lost. Instead, operators say they largely depend on SACCO officials and chairpersons to negotiate with government agencies whenever disputes arise.
Not Every Person Posing as an Officer May Be a Law Enforcement Officer
There is another complication in Nairobi’s enforcement environment: not everyone who presents themselves as a law enforcement officer is necessarily one.
In one reported incident on the Motorists Association of Kenya Facebook page, a motorist was stopped along University Way by an individual claiming to be a law enforcement officer and accused of committing a zebra-crossing violation. When the driver offered to step out of the vehicle, a woman allegedly forced her way into the car and issued threats, compelling the driver to drive towards a secluded lane near Chester House.
A third individual reportedly joined them, after which the group allegedly demanded KES 90,000, claiming that payment would make the offence disappear.
If accurately reported, the incident illustrates why allegations of cash demands in Nairobi should not automatically be assumed to involve genuine enforcement officers. Individuals posing as law enforcement officers may also exploit motorists and commuters, making it important to distinguish between verified officers and criminal impersonation.
Managing traffic in one of Africa’s busiest cities is no easy task. Officers are responsible for keeping intersections moving, preventing illegal parking, enforcing road regulations and deterring petty crime within the city centre. Many perform these duties professionally under challenging conditions. However, these allegations risk undermining public confidence in largely hard-working law enforcement.
Could Nairobi do better?
Major cities around the world have demonstrated that orderly public transport systems depend on clear rules that are applied consistently.
Where loading zones are clearly designated, digital enforcement replaces discretionary cash collections, and penalties follow transparent legal procedures, both commuters and operators benefit.
Nairobi has made significant progress in modernising parts of its transport network, but many operators believe the regulatory environment within the CBD still requires greater transparency and accountability.
Authorities have an opportunity to build public trust by ensuring that all fees, including fines, are formally documented, publicly accessible and paid through official channels instead of cash transactions.
Editorial Note:
KenyaScoop.com has not been able to independently verify the claims circulating within the matatu fraternity and presented in this article. The claims are presented as allegations and should not be taken as established facts. KenyaScoop.com welcomes clarification from the relevant authorities.
