Kisumu County government has embarked on reorganization of traffic flow in Kisumu City to decongest the Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the Africities Summit.
Over 6, 000 delegates among them seven Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the 9th edition of the Africities summit slated for 17th -22nd May 2022.
All matatus and buses have been directed away from the CBD to Uhuru Business Park Complex along Nyerere Road.
Judy Bala, Kisumu City Planner said the move targets to decongest the city to ensure that dignitaries and investors attending the conference are not caught in traffic.
Under the new changes, private vehicles will use the Jomo Kenyatta Highway to Uhuru Business Market as opposed to using the Nyerere Road.
All town service vehicles will go through Patel’s roundabout to Mamba and stop at Taifa Park near Agha Khan hall to drop and pick passengers.
Vehicles from Nairobi will use Kachok flyover, Ondiek Highway and join Gumbi Road heading to the main bus park.
Following the new changes, travelers are forced to walk some distance to board public transport vehicles to their destination.
Bala said the relocation programme was ongoing adding that the Africities summit has come in handy to implement it.
“This plan has been in the works for a long time and we needed to take action before Africities,” she said.
“After the summit, we will take time to learn the flow and correct it as time goes by,” she added.
As a long-term measure, she said three bus parks were under construction at Mamboleo, Otonglo and Nyamasaria for the buses and matatus to drop and pick passengers.
Jacob Otieno, a matatu operator said even though the plan has helped to decongest the city, the number of customers has gone down thus affecting their business.
By Bernice Amuge and Kandia Marion
