PROMOTING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN NAIROBI

The study finds that nearly 50% of daily trips in Nairobi are made via non-motorized transport (NMT), yet these users account for 66.3% of traffic fatalities. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable, with a high concentration of deaths among males aged 20-44. Infrastructure is severely lacking, characterized by narrow or non-existent footpaths, poor lighting, and a lack of protected cycle lanes, particularly in low-income eastern districts. The report recommends expanding NMT networks, enhancing road safety enforcement, and improving street lighting and drainage to create a more inclusive and sustainable transport system.

• Non-motorized transport (NMT) is the most popular mode of travel in Nairobi, with 2.27 million walking trips and 55,000 cycling trips occurring daily, representing 48.2% of all daily trips.
• NMT users are disproportionately affected by road fatalities, accounting for 66.3% of all traffic deaths in Nairobi. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable group at 64.5%, while cyclists represent 1.8%.
• Traffic fatalities in Nairobi show a strong gender and age bias, with males accounting for an average of 88.3% of deaths, and 46.4% of all fatalities occurring among people aged 20-40.
• A small number of roads are responsible for a majority of deaths; 10 specific corridors account for 55.5% of all traffic fatalities in the city, with Mombasa Road appearing in the top three deadliest roads every year from 2015-2019.
• Road accidents are most frequent on weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and peak between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, which correlates with poor street lighting and factors like drunken driving.
• Private vehicles and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) are the primary causes of accidents, though a significant data gap exists due to 'unknown vehicles' in hit-and-run cases.
• Pedestrian infrastructure is severely inadequate across all surveyed corridors, with common issues including a lack of protected footpaths, poor drainage, and a lack of accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• Cycling infrastructure is fragmented and often misplaced; while high volumes of cyclists are found in eastern working-class neighborhoods, recent infrastructure development has focused on up-market areas like Kilimani and Kileleshwa.
• NMT usage is heavily driven by socio-economic necessity, as the majority of pedestrians and cyclists are low-income earners who walk or cycle because they cannot afford alternatives.
• Environmental pollutants, including dust, vehicular emissions, and industrial smoke, significantly impact NMT users, particularly in the eastern part of the city near the Industrial Area.
• Pedestrians frequently avoid footbridges because they increase journey length, preferring to cross at street level despite the higher risk of accidents.

APA

Odhiambo, E., Baker, E., McNamara, L., & Carter, S. (2021). PROMOTING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN NAIROBI. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/CDKN%20NMT%20Report_updated%20to%20add%20citation%20Jan%202022.pdf

Chicago

Odhiambo, Edna, Emma Baker, Lisa McNamara, and Suzanne Carter. PROMOTING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN NAIROBI. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2021. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/CDKN%20NMT%20Report_updated%20to%20add%20citation%20Jan%202022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Odhiambo |first1=Edna |last2=Baker |first2=Emma |last3=McNamara |first3=Lisa |last4=Carter |first4=Suzanne |title=PROMOTING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN NAIROBI |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2021 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/CDKN%20NMT%20Report_updated%20to%20add%20citation%20Jan%202022.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{odhiambo2021promoting, author = {Odhiambo, Edna and Baker, Emma and McNamara, Lisa and Carter, Suzanne}, title = {{PROMOTING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT IN NAIROBI}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2021}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/CDKN%20NMT%20Report_updated%20to%20add%20citation%20Jan%202022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }