Authors : Jesse Ntemo Bikoki; Jason Kalonji Mukanya

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/mry35hne

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/mrxtna44

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb954

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : In a context of rapid urban growth, the city of Kinshasa is facing a persistent mobility crisis marked by the ineffectiveness of fare policies in the public transport sector. This article examines the institutional limitations of urban governance by analyzing transport regulatory mechanisms through a qualitative approach. Based on field observations, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis, the study highlights the dominance of the informal sector, the failure to enforce regulatory texts, the weak control capacity of the state, and the inefficiency of existing infrastructure. Governance appears fragmented, with no effective coordination among institutions, leaving room for informal regulation dominated by private transport operators. The findings show that the absence of coherent urban planning and the weakness of public transport services contribute to fare arbitrariness and the precariousness of users. The article proposes the creation of a metropolitan regulatory authority, the strengthening of the public transport fleet, the professionalization of informal actors, and improved inter-institutional coordination. These recommendations aim to reform urban mobility governance in Kinshasa and ensure equitable, sustainable, and socially inclusive mobility.

Keywords : Urban Mobility, Governance, Public Transport, Informal Sector, Fare Regulation

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