Nairobi Joins Global Drive to Cut Road Crash Deaths

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The Nairobi City County government has joined a global road safety programme backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies: a move expected to bolster efforts to reduce road crashes and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in the capital.

The city is among more than 30 urban centres worldwide selected to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) which forms part of a US $350 million global commitment announced by former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg during CityLab 2026.

The initiative comes amid growing concern over the toll of road crashes which claim more than one million lives globally each year.

In Kenya, over 4,000 people die annually in road accidents, while thousands more suffer life-changing injuries.

According to Bloomberg Philanthropies many of these deaths are preventable and are linked to systemic failures such as poor road design, weak enforcement and urban planning that prioritises vehicle movement at the expense of public safety.

Under the partnership, Nairobi will receive technical support aimed at improving road design, strengthening traffic enforcement and expanding safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

Speaking during the official launch of the programme, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the partnership would strengthen ongoing efforts to make the city’s roads safer.

“We are delighted to be part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety. As the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi serves a large and rapidly growing population, making this collaboration both timely and critical,” he said.

“This partnership will greatly strengthen our ongoing efforts to protect and safeguard the lives of Nairobi residents. We remain committed to working closely with the BIGRS initiative and are grateful for the technical support and expertise that this partnership will provide.”

The governor said road safety remains a key priority for the county administration as Nairobi continued to expand its transport and mobility infrastructure.

County executive committee member for mobility and works Ibrahim Nyangoya welcomed Nairobi’s inclusion in the initiative saying the county would embrace internationally recognised approaches to road safety management.

“As the Department of Mobility and Works, we are committed to embracing the Safe System Approach and ensuring that our interventions are informed by evidence, global best practices, and data-driven solutions,” he said.

“We shall continue working closely with all relevant stakeholders to implement sustainable road safety measures that will ultimately save lives and protect vulnerable road users across Nairobi.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies noted that road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.2 million people annually worldwide including about 560 people in Nairobi each year.

Kelly Larson of Bloomberg Philanthropies said the organisation was pleased to welcome Nairobi into a global network of cities committed to reducing road fatalities and injuries.

“We are proud to welcome Nairobi City County to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a global partnership dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries on our roads,” he said.

“Through this initiative, we work with governments to strengthen road safety policies, improve the use of data to guide interventions, and implement proven, life-saving measures in cities around the world. These efforts include safer speed management, stronger traffic law enforcement, and street designs that prioritize the safety of all road users.”

The programme will support Nairobi in implementing proven road safety policies, improving infrastructure, enhancing data collection and strengthening efforts to reduce speeding, which contributes to nearly half of all road traffic fatalities globally.

Nairobi joins a growing network of cities and regions across 13 countries participating in the initiative, including locations in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Uganda and Vietnam.

The county government hopes the partnership will help create safer streets, reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries, and support the development of a more sustainable urban transport system for the city’s rapidly growing population.