Kenyan civil servants set for two shifts in bid to ease city traffic jam

david nganga

June 22, 2018 11:47 AM

The exercise is part of a programmed launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta

Public servants are set to work in two shifts as the government looks to decongest the city by keeping out unnecessary traffic.

The Public Service Ministry has asked all civil servants working and living in Nairobi to provide details of their areas of work and residence in a bid to generate data that will help determine split working hours for public service.

“In order for the ministry to make informed decisions, information in regard to the number of public servants in Nairobi and routes they normally use to and from work is required," reads part of an internal memo addressed to all public servants working in Parliament.

The exercise is part of the Nairobi regeneration programme launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta recently.

Work routes

Government employees based in Nairobi are required to state whether they are self-driven and the main route they normally travel to and from.

Civil servants work between 8am and 5pm during the 35-hour weekday schedule. Public Service ministry did not offer details on the timelines of the expected shifts.

Besides the flexible work hours, the team leading the regeneration programme has also recommended the automation of bus terminal, launch of the Thika bus rapid transport and the setting up of the Nairobi traffic management committee to deal with gridlock.

The team has also proposed two car-free days in the CBD and Westlands, a suburb about 3km west of the city centre.

david nganga