Ex – Nairobi Speaker Benson Mutura Appointed New Chair of NAMATA
Ex-Speaker Benson Mutura appointed by President William Ruto the new Chairman of Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority. Photo/Adieri Mulaa
- The metropolitan area comprises five counties surrounding the capital city, namely – Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos, Murang’a and Nairobi City.
- NAMATA was established by President Uhuru Kenyatta through an Executive Order, in a Legal Notice No. 18 of 17th February, 2017.
Former Nairobi City County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura is the new chairman of Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
The appointment by President William Ruto is contained in The Kenya Gazette dated 24th May, 2024. Nairobi Metropolitan Area is comprised of Kiambu County, Kajiado County, Nairobi City County, Machakos County and Murang’a County.
Mr Mutura will serve for three years with effect from the date of appointment as contained in The Kenya Gazette date 24th May, 2024.
Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) is mandated to oversee the establishment of an integrated, efficient, effective and sustainable public transport system within the metropolitan area.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA) comprises five counties surrounding the capital city, namely – Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos, Murang’a and Nairobi City.
Since its establishment over seven year ago, NaMATA has remained docile, with virtually nothing to demonstrate within its mandate in the metropolitan area, other than unknown boardroom operations.
Mr Mutura will chair the Authority, which was established by President Uhuru Kenyatta through an Executive Order, in a Legal Notice No. 18 of 17th February, 2017.
The new NAMATA chairman will be expected to navigate his tenure towards bringing sanity on the major roads within in the Nairobi metropolitan area, which serve the five counties.
The former county speaker carries the advantage of having served in various leadership roles in Nairobi, first as a City Councillor in the defunct City Council of Nairobi and subsequently as a Member of Parliament in the capital and eventually as Speaker of the County Assembly.
Mr Mutura served as speaker in the Second Assembly where he succeeded Speaker Beatrice Elachi, currently Dagoretti North MP.
He is credited with restoring sanity in the county assembly, which was then riddled with acute leadership wrangles among MCAs and staff witch-hunt, through a consultative approach.
As he assumes office in his new posting, the former Makadara MP has a noble task ahead, to work on sustainable modalities of resolving the perennial traffic congestion experienced in Nairobi central business district and along all the roads leading into and out of the capital city.
Among the major roads are Thika Highway, Mombasa Road, Outer Ring Road, Jogoo Road, Waiyaki Way, Kangundo Road, Ngong Road and Valley Road.
The NAMATA legal instrument says the Authority shall:
– Develop, formulate and implement strategies, plans and policies in relation to public transport.
– Coordinate the development, management and maintenance of Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) with other government agencies and parties.
– Regulate and enter into agreements with MRTS Operators and Service Providers.
– Integrate all modes of transport and land use planning.
– Undertake research and develop to provide evidentially based MRTS network.
– Improve the environmental sustainability of the transport system in the metropolitan area.
In the capital’s central business district, officers deployed from the traffic police department and traffic marshalls from Nairobi County City Inspectorate department are unable to effectively manage the chaotic traffic movement and congestion in the .
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