The High Court in Nyeri has granted the county government and seven matatu saccos a 30-day extension to negotiate a settlement on the planned relocation of public service vehicles from the Nyeri Central Business District (CBD) to the new Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima Bus Park. Justice Kizito Magare, who issued the ruling, also extended interim orders barring the county from enforcing the relocation until the mediation window closes. The judge warned that if the parties do not reach a consensus within the allotted time, the court will proceed to issue a final determination on the long-running dispute.
The extension follows a failed mediation meeting held on January 16, where representatives from 2NK, Nyena, 4NT, Namuga, 3NCK, NIM, and Gakanango saccos met with county officials but were unable to agree on a way forward. The saccos moved to court in November 2024, arguing that the directive requiring them to vacate the three CBD termini lacked proper public participation, threatened their livelihoods, and placed an unfair burden on operators who have existing loans and rely on high-traffic town stages for revenue. They also claim the relocation plan discriminates against their members by pushing them to a relatively unfamiliar location where they fear reduced passenger flow.
In its counter-application, the county government insists the conservatory orders have hindered orderly transport management and led to revenue losses, adding that the saccos misrepresented key facts when seeking the initial injunction. County Attorney Kimani Racuiya further argues that the court’s temporary orders unfairly apply only to the petitioning saccos, complicating efforts to regulate other operators in the CBD. With the case now set for mention on March 4, commuters and businesses are hoping the mediation will yield a compromise that balances modernisation of transport infrastructure with the economic realities facing matatu operators.