The State has suspended the much-hyped car-free days within the Nairobi CBD for at least another two weeks in a bid to address security concerns.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia on Wednesday said the suspension will allow authorities to vet hawkers and traders. He noted that an “essential security measure” has not been finalised, hence, the decision to postpone the plan.
“The capture of the Biometric data of the traders using BVR kits has not been completed as anticipated. This as an essential security measure that has to be finalized.
“In order to ensure that all hawkers and traders are for security reasons comprehensively vetted by BVR, and also to complete all consultations, the piloting for car-free days has been deferred for a minimum of two weeks,” said Macharia in the statement.
The CS also noted that the government took into consideration the recent terror attack at 14 Riverside Drive, Nairobi.
“The vetting will involve the use of biometrics to identify the hawkers taking into consideration the recent terror attack in DusitD2.”
The car-free pilot program was set to start on February 1 with Wednesdays and Saturdays as the proposed days.
