Chaos on Monday marked the start of new rules aimed at easing traffic in Nairobi.

The regulations bar long-distance passenger vehicles from entering the city centre.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the redesignated stations. Some operators defied the new City Hall rules.

Matatu operators from Thika kept away from the bus park set aside for them at Kariorkor, arguing that it was too small.

Mr George Njoroge, a driver on the route, said a number of matatus had been towed away from their usual stop on Mfangano Street and the rest of the operators were playing hide-and-seek with the police and City Council askaris.

“That park at Kariorkor is too small for the 300 matatus on this route. Whoever came up with this new plan had not done their calculations properly,” said the driver as he kept on looking out for the law enforcers.

In Westlands, the Nation saw two upcountry matatus that ply the Kisii, Kilgoris and Transmara route, while those from Bomet kept away.

Mr Evans Ondieki, who was travelling to Nyamira, said he had been directed to Westlands but when he arrived there in the morning he found the park empty.

“We usually board the matatu outside Afya Centre but an attendant there advised us to head here but there is no vehicle. This is unfair to us and especially to my baby. We would have been in Naivasha by now,” he said.

Extra expense

Mr Moses Moseka said he was advised to head to Westlands but on arrival waited for more than two hours without seeing a matatu.

College student Dan Osoro said he had incurred the extra expense of having to travel to Westlands yet there were no Kisii-bound matatus.