The government is considering introducing new working schedules to ease traffic jams in the capital, Nairobi.
The Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Henry Rotich said there’s need to change work times to help manage heavy traffic in Nairobi during rush hours in the morning and evening. This could mean some people working at night.
“There is a need for the change of working time as one of the measure of managing the heavy traffic in the country,” Mr Rotich said at the World Bank and Kenya urbanization review forum held on Friday in Nairobi. “There is need for a paradigm shift on when people should report to their places of work from the old order where everyone officially starts and leaves their work at the same time,” he said.
Mr Rotich said various measures were being explored on how to manage the heavy traffic that congests and slows down vehicle movement in the country, including introduction of more city commuter trains.
He said heavy traffic jams work against gains made in other areas of improving people’s lifestyles and negatively affects economic growth. “The government will set aside some money that will go directly to transport and infrastructure for every county to minimise congestion and improve people’s welfare,” Mr Rotich further said.
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He also encouraged building of mass transport system and decentralization of social amenities to reduce traffic into major towns. “Another way of addressing urban transport challenge includes building mass transport system, building of social amenities and schools in all the suburbs to avoid children traversing from one area to the next while passing through the major towns when going to school,” he added.
The Kenya urbanisation review takes a deep look at Kenya’s urbanization process while providing initial policy options in several key areas including housing and basic services, land use and transport, planning, sub-national finance, and local economic development.
Those who were present in the forum included Prof Kaimenyi, the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Hon. James Macharia for Transport and Infrastructure, Ms Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director, Kenya and Mr. Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez, World Bank Director, Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global practice.
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