Public road transport services in the city of Nairobi, Kenya: a case study of the potential for their conversion into a hybrid transport mode

Abstract

Paper presented at the 31st Annual Southern African Transport Conference 9-12 July 2012 "Getting Southern Africa to Work", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

Public service transport in the city of Nairobi is operated by a few bus companies and the paratransit matatus. Because of the many problems associated with the paratransit mode, especially a high rate of road crashes, the draft Integrated National Transport Policy recommended the need: “To concession routes to SACCOs and bus companies capable of operating them efficiently and in affordable and safe manner”. This paper examines transport services with emphasis on those provided by PSVs on Thika Road. Information was gathered from key informants who included, directors of the Matatu Owners Association and Kenya Bus Services, route managers and crew. It was found that some form of hybrid mode of transport already exists in the form of paratransit matatus and larger buses operated by bus companies with potential for being strengthened into an effective hybrid mode comprising BRT and some paratransit PSVs.