Nairobians to keep enjoying cheap rides for as low as $0.2 after parliament approves USD5m budget

Parliament approved Sh500 million budget to NYS for the state body to beef up its fleet.
The NYS currently serves nine routes and has deployed 26 of its 29 buses to ferry passengers at a cost of Sh20 irrespective of destination.
The new development is certain to further drive a wage between NYS and the matatu industry.

Nairobians are set to keep enjoying cheaper rides after the National Youth Service (NYS) was allocated Sh500 million ($5m) by the parliament to acquire more commuter buses and beef up its fleet that started operations in Nairobi last month.

The amount is contained in the supplementary budget II that was approved by MPs on Thursday evening.

The report was unanimously adopted without debate.

“The National Youth Service has been allocated Sh500 million to acquire more buses under the initiative of “Operation Okoa abiria,” Mr Kimani Ichung’wa who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee said in a report to the House.

The NYS fleet started passenger service operations in Nairobi last month amid protests from the multi billion matatu industry and the new development is certainly going to further drive a wage between the two.

Also read: This Kenyan CEO has a smart plan to end Nairobi's crazy traffic

Public Service and Youth Cabinet secretary, Prof Margaret Kobia, early this month told the Senate committee on Transport that the procurement of additional buses will enable the NYS to cover more areas.

“The pilot scheme began with an affirmative price of a flat Sh20 irrespective of distance within Nairobi. The charge is intended to initially recover the cost of fuelling without significant commercial gain and focusing on more vulnerable members of society,” Prof Kobia said

The NYS currently serves nine routes and has deployed 26 of its 29 buses to ferry passengers at a cost of Sh20 irrespective of destination.

Also read: SHUTTLE HIRES SMART BEAUTIFUL WOMEN TO WOO CUSTOMERS

The initial areas covered include Pipeline in Embakasi, Githurai, Mwiki, Dandora, Kariobangi, Kibera, Kawangware, Kangemi and Kayole.

Mr Ichung’wa, however, said the committee had reservations on the hurried introduction of the NYS buses without proper feasibility study.

“The Treasury also noted that the objectives of the project are unclear, whether the buses are commercial or just providing community service and indeed whether the function is a national government function or a county government function as per the Constitution,” said Mr Ichung’wa.