Mombasa County suspends new traffic system

Addressing the media at the Mombasa County Inspectorate Headquarters in Tudor Tuesday morning, the county executive for transport Taufiq Balala announced that the two-way traffic system will resume immediately effective midnight.

This follows a public outcry from the residents, matatu operators, other stakeholders and the political class who were all calling for a review of the new traffic system.

The exercise that started on February 2 on a trial basis was eventually intended to become permanent once the teething problems and challenges of the system were identified.

“Accordingly, as the CECM in charge of transport, I have this morning and after wide consultation with the governor directed that the Mombasa County Government Department of Transport reconsider the plans currently being implemented and review the same”.

“To this end, and in response to the good people of Mombasa, I have ordered the immediate suspension of the current traffic management plan effective from midnight today,” said Balala.

Balala said that the declared changes were intended to secure the best traffic system for the interest of Mombasa residents to serve both the present and future generations.

“We cannot pretend to close our ears, shut our eyes and seal our mouths in the face of the people’s cries for intervention. It is said that the voice of the people is the voice of God, we are not insensitive to the suffering experienced by our people,” said Balala.

According to the new traffic rules that were put in place last week, most of the major roads had been turned into one way with an aim to ease traffic and reduce travel times for motorists. A move that brought chaos and huge traffic snarl-up in the town centre.

Trucks had also been barred from using the CBD except from 8 pm to 8 am.

Interviewed Mombasa residents welcomed the change of mind from the county urging Balala to engage all stakeholders next time he wants to implement changes affecting the public transport sector.