City MCA calls for streetlight policy to address growing insecurity

Many Nairobi residents have grown accustomed to the fear and risks that come with navigating poorly lit streets and alleys after sunset.

The absence of reliable street lighting has made some parts of the city unsafe, contributing to rising crime and limiting business activity during early mornings and late evenings.

A fresh motion tabled at the Nairobi County Assembly now seeks to change that by urging the county government to install functional streetlights across roads, alleys, parks, markets, and other public spaces, in a bid to tackle rising insecurity and support round-the-clock business operations.

The motion, introduced by South B MCA and Minority Leader Waithera Chege, asks the county executive to develop a clear legal framework for the management, installation, and protection of public lighting infrastructure.

Waithera says crime in Nairobi has become worse due to poor visibility in public areas, and warned that unless the situation is addressed, the city’s economic potential will continue to suffer.

It highlights that previous efforts by the county government, including the installation of high-mast lights and street poles, have largely failed because of frequent vandalism, theft, and lack of maintenance.

Waithera’s motion links the current crime trends in many city estates and commercial zones to these lighting failures.

“…this Assembly urges the county executive to formulate a policy to provide for a legal framework for management of public/streetlights in the streets, public social areas, public parks, county public roads and markets in the county,” the motion states.

It further notes that residents and business owners are increasingly being targeted by criminal gangs, particularly in areas without lights, resulting in injuries, deaths, and property loss.

The lack of proper lighting, the motion argues, has turned many open spaces into crime zones, while also discouraging legitimate business operations during early and late hours.

According to the motion, many parts of Nairobi are in darkness by evening, including backstreets, feeder roads, social centres, and trading areas.

This has not only created fear among the public but also reduced investor confidence and denied youth employment opportunities that would come with extended business hours.

The South B ward representative insists that for Nairobi to transform into a city that runs a 24-hour economy, safety must be guaranteed through structured lighting of its public spaces.

She wants the Governor Johnson Sakaja-led administration to move swiftly and treat public lighting as a security and development priority.

Other Topics To Read

• Headlines
• City Affairs
• Nairobi City
• Johnson Sakaja
• Nairobi CBD
• Governor Johnson Sakaja
• street lights
• street lighting tenders
• Nairobi insecurity
• City MCA calls for streetlight policy to address growing insecurity
• News