The Nairobi we want: Residents call for systems that truly work

The Nairobi County Government has embarked on various initiatives to restore order and uplift the image of the Central Business District (CBD), which has long suffered from neglect.

When residents are not trapped in endless gridlocks, they are forced to navigate a chaotic public transport system, overflowing sewer lines, uncollected rubbish, congested streets, and the constant hassle of cart pullers and trolley pushers.

The list is endless. But these are some of the challenges that make life so unbearable that if given a choice, living in the city for most dwellers or visitors would be the last option.

“In the city, the congestion of matatus is just on another level. The matatus are many, stifling space for easy movement. Combined with boda boda operators that do not observe traffic lights and have stages everywhere, this confusion makes the city a very risky place to walk on the streets,” laments Peter Njuguna, highlighting the agony residents go through on a daily basis. 

He adds: “The vehicles contribute to a lot of air pollution in the CBD, thus affecting our health. The Nairobi Metropolitan Services had good plans to decongest the CBD by establishing termini away to act as drop and pick points but since Sakaja took over as Governor, we don’t hear of them anymore.”

It is therefore a sigh of relief as Sakaja’s administration tries to bring order in the Central Business District where the law of the jungle reigns. 

The county government has introduced garbage compactors, banned hawkers from some key streets, embarked on a clean-up exercise, ordered removal of unauthorised signage and repainting of buildings, and prohibited hooting and loud music in a move applauded by many city dwellers who have known no order for a long time.  

The transformation is part of the governor’s 2022 campaign promise of realising a city of hope, dignity, order and opportunities.

Do more

However, Nairobians now want Sakaja to do more, not just in the CBD but also extend the efforts in residential areas where the level of organisation is wanting and tranquility lacking.

In the CBD, they want Sakaja to bring order in the public transport, where matatus and boda boda congestion and disorderliness have denied residents peace and safety.

The disbanded NMS under Major General Mohamed Badi attempted in vain, to bring order by taking over the health, transport, public works, and planning and development services functions from City Hall, which for decades, has struggled to restore the lost glory of the Green City in the Sun.

On health, NMS moved health services closer to citizens by constructing several hospitals in informal settlements around the city. 

Pedestrian and cycling lanes were rolled out along Kenyatta Avenue, Wabera, Muindu Mbingu Streets and Aga Khan Walk with plan being extension of the grey and red lanes beyond the city centre.

Erick Mulwa, a banker and regular commuter, wants proper pedestrian marking of roads both in the CBD and estates, working traffic lights and exhibition of discipline among motorists.  

“We need well marked and wide dedicated crossing spots like is the case in European countries. Currently in the CBD, you can cross anywhere, which is risky,” says Mulwa while imploring on the county government to ensure there is proper lighting in the streets.

According to the banker, the CBD is dimly lit.

“This creates a favourable environment for muggers. That is why at night, certain streets are deserted because they are not well lit,” he notes.

Mulwa is challenging Sakaja to give the city a unique identity like great cities in the world.

“For instance, when you ask a Kenyan what Nairobi is known for, the immediate response will be ‘muggings, robberies’, no wonder the Nairobbery tag,” he says. 

Nairobi we want

All is not lost. The County Assembly recently approved the Mobility Enforcement Unit (MEU) tasked with addressing traffic congestion, illegal parking, and enforcement gaps in the transport sector.

The initiative, according to County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Mobility and Works Ibrahim Nyangoya, is a key part of the Nairobi City County Transport Act, 2020, aligning with ongoing strategies by the Mobility and Works Sector to ensure transport in the city is well-organised and efficient.

Key features will focus on centralised regulation of public service vehicles, boda bodas and tuk-tuks to ensure compliance. 

Traffic marshals will be deployed to manage traffic flow and decongestion of CBD where pedestrians, matatu crews and hawkers scramble for space.

Further, the County Parking Unit (CPU) will be established to deal with illegal parking while streamlining parking services.

“The unit will be resourced with 360 enforcement officers, using existing county resources to avoid additional taxpayer costs. This step enhances operational efficiency and supports Nairobi’s economic growth, environmental sustainability, and livability,” said Nyangoya.

According to Chris Kost, director at Institute of Transport and Development Policy(ITDP), the county should develop high-quality walkways on all major streets.

“We need wide, high-quality walkways that meet universal access standards. Crossings need traffic calming or signalisation to reduce vehicle speeds. We also need a good drainage system and designs because when it rains, the city becomes impassable,” says Kost.

He is appealing to Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to include trees in designs for roads while preserving existing trees.

“Plant trees. We are losing more and more heritage trees,” observes Kost and suggests to the county to consider planting trees in the middle of the streets.

A spot check by The Nairobian found out that many trees that beautified some streets are no longer there and the spaces are now parking lots for mainly private vehicles or taxis.

On the need to streamline commuter transport, Kost is urging the county government to fast-track implementation of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), which is public transport system designed to improve capacity and reliability in congested cities.

“We need to restart implementation of BRT Line 2 with good designs incorporating passing lanes and CBD infrastructure. We also need to move forward with Line 3 following Cabinet’s approval in December,” he says.

Line 2 stretches from Lang’ata Road to Ngong Road, Juja Road, Komarock Road to Ruiru while Line 3 was to run from Githurai through Thika Road to Moi Avenue in the central business district and terminate at Kenyatta Hospital.

According to World Bank estimates, city residents on average spend an hour to travel to work and another 60 minutes commuting back home due to traffic congestion.

Away from the CBD, city dwellers want Sakaja to deal with the garbage choking residential areas.

“In many estates dumpsites and along the roads, you will find mountains of garbage lying uncollected for days, which is a health risk. It’s time Sakaja decisively deals with this problem,” says Naomi Wafula, a resident of Pipeline estate.

The issue of many illegal dumpsites in the city, according to Naomi, should not be ignored since haphazard dumping seem to have been normalized.  

For John Wanyama, a youth leader in Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums, the Governor should ensure the city is safe from frequent fire disasters. Over the past few months, his neighbourhood has been experiencing frequent infernos.

“We urge our Governor to work on equipping many jobless youth with firefighting skills and equip more fire stations so that when fire breaks out, it is easily contained because we are losing lives and property all the time,” he says.

Gikomba and Toi markets have suffered several fire incidents, which have left many traders counting losses. 

Residents have been blaming the fire fighters for responding late and sometimes fire engines running out of water as soon as they arrive.  

“Many times we have lost our properties due to late arrival and lack of water in the fire engines. If the county  constructs more fire stations, establishes water hydrants in most parts of the city  and work on quick response time, fire incidents will be reduced significantly,” said Wanyama.

The water problem makes the situation even more serious. Most buildings have no water - an understandable situation since the city, for decades, has survived on water rationing. 

Speaking recently during a pass-out parade of 60 newly trained firefighters at the Kangundo Fire Station, Sakaja  said  to boost the county’s disaster response across the county, it will launch the Nairobi Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

“Once established, this authority will operate independently, significantly improving our ability to manage disasters effectively. We are committed to rolling out this plan soon,” he pledged disclosing that there are plans to construct three additional fire stations.

Kangundo Road, Ruaraka, Gigiri, Enterprise Road and Waithaka and Tom Mboya are the six fire stations serving the city with a population of more than four million people.

Last year in an interview, Bram Simiyu, the Chief Officer for Disaster Management said in a bid to effectively respond to emergencies, they were exploring ways of operating from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Wilson Airport.

The other problem confronting dwellers is the influx of street families that occupy the city centre and estates. 

Green city yearning

“The issue of street families has given the city a bad image and should be dealt with in the transformation plan. Eldoret, the newest town to be elevated to the city status did it and its time Nairobi does the same,” said Peter Mukundia.

Nairobians yearn for a green city with well-planned development. According to Florence Nyole, President of Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), Nairobi holds hope for economic and social opportunities for many Kenyans.

“The city has over the last decade or so experienced an increase in population. The city has lost its glory due to unplanned development, poor maintenance of infrastructure and lack of access to basic services,” says Nyole.

As a city dweller, a practitioner and a leader, she says wants the city to regain its lost glory when order and organisation was the norm.  

“Further, the city management should open up all the green spaces for Kenyans to enjoy the open and fresh air, whether it is Central Park, or Uhuru Park. Both spaces were renovated using tax payers’ money yet the same taxpayers have not been able to enjoy these lush gardens since they were renovated so who do they expect to enjoy these facilities,” she notes.

There is also need for more non-motorized transportation with wide pedestrian walkways and sufficient cycling paths.

“The city should be universally accessible with appropriate ramping across the walkways and safe for walking by children, women and the elderly. Today, if one walks or drives along Haile Sellasie Avenue towards Marikiti and Wakulima Market, the pedestrians are competing for space with motor vehicles and it has become chaotic, that needs to be improved,” adds Nyole.

The AAK boss says following the lapse last year of Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN), there is need for a new masterplan. 

“The need for neighbourhood plans at the local level continues to be a necessity. We need to look at the planning ordinances that the current infrastructure can support in terms of density and land use,” says Nyole.

She is opposed to unplanned developments taking place in Kilimani, Kileleshwa, South C, South B, Eastleigh, Parklands and Westlands.

“We are building chaos and will soon be having a derelict city. We propose a permanent city authority that transcends the election cycles such as what we have in Kampala to ensure continuity and well-planned programming of the city’s infrastructure, design and waste management to benefit all the city dwellers,” she points out.