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27 Oct 2023
Sakaja promises to improve lower CBD as World Cities Day approaches
Nairobi, Monday 30 October 2023 - Speaking on River Road Friday, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja pledged to improve conditions in the city’s lower central business district, and acknowledged the area had received less attention than the upper parts of the central city.
“We will improve mobility because it’s only in the upper side where it was improved in the past few years. Down here, we will improve these streets. We will improve these walkways so that you can walk “Maisha London” and feel smart, in a capital city.
Earlier, the governor insisted that traders stop trading on Nairobi’s streets, a measure that has attracted opposition from informal traders and members of Parliament. He said the government had prepared back lanes for traders to use which were lighted and sheltered.
“If we want to transform our city, everybody must follow the rules. We have to think of the normal person, who needs space to walk.”
The governor also pledged to complete cycling lanes. “We are doing the bike lanes for cycling, because cycling is also healthy. I also want to start cycling to City Hall.”
The governor spoke on Friday after inspecting proposed designs of River Road during the Placemaking Week Nairobi 2023 celebrations. He was accompanied by former Nairobi Mayor Joe Aketch and Cecilia Andersson, Urban Mobility Lead at UN- Habitat.
Now in its sixth year, Placemaking Week Nairobi works with communities to envision local improvements to particular neighbourhoods and streets. Throughout the week, Kenyans on River Road gave their views on the interventions they wanted to see on the street.
Consultations were also held in the area with public transport operators, business owners and cyclists, and a mass bike ride was held in Nairobi on Saturday to highlight the rights of cyclists.
On Tuesday 31 October, which is World Cities Day, the #RiveNiLife Exhibition, which showcases solutions to improve neighbourhoods next to Nairobi’s rivers, will open at the GoDown Arts Centre, Kilimani. There will also be an urban dialogue and awards ceremony.
