Nairobi has joined a growing list of cities participating in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), a programme aimed at creating safer streets and reducing road deaths.
The county's participation is expected to strengthen efforts to improve road design, enhance traffic law enforcement, and expand connected cycling and pedestrian infrastructure across the city.
Road traffic crashes claim nearly 1.2 million lives globally each year, including an estimated 560 deaths annually in Nairobi City County.
According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, the initiative is part of a USD 350 million global commitment announced in April to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries worldwide.
Through the programme, Nairobi will receive support in several key areas, including the implementation of proven road safety policies and infrastructure improvements, as well as efforts to reduce dangerous speeding, which contributes to nearly half of all road traffic fatalities globally.
The city will also benefit from enhanced data collection, monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making to guide road safety interventions.
“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 prioritise the safety of all road users,” Ms Kelly Larson from Bloomberg Philanthropies said.
Speaking during the official kickoff meeting, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja described the initiative as both timely and critical for a city serving a large and rapidly growing population.
“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,” he said.
Statistics indicate that more than one million people worldwide, including over 4,000 in Kenya, lose their lives in road crashes every year. A further 20 to 50 million people are injured, many of whom are left with lifelong disabilities.
“Most of these deaths and injuries are not accidents, but the result of system failures including poorly designed roads, public policies and urban design that favours vehicle speed over public health and safety,” the organisation added.
Nairobi County has been embracing the Safe System Approach in its mobility planning, ensuring that road safety interventions are guided by evidence, global best practices, and data-driven solutions.
“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,” said Mr Ibrahim Nyangoya, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Mobility and Works.
Other locations participating in the initiative include Buenos Aires and Córdoba (Argentina); Chittagong (Chattogram) and Dhaka North (Bangladesh); Campinas, Salvador, São Paulo State and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Cali and Medellín (Colombia); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador); Oromia State (Ethiopia); Karnataka State, Maharashtra State (including Mumbai and Pune), and Delhi (India); Mombasa and Nairobi (Kenya); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Jalisco State and Mexico City (Mexico); Kampala (Uganda); and Da Nang and Hanoi (Vietnam).
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