Discussion on the case of Nairobi’s Matatus, People, Politics and Power-Play.
Nairobi: Did The Expressway forget about ‘people?’
As urban areas continue to grow, so do their benefits and challenges. One major challenge that has become increasingly apparent in most emerging African cities is the growing gap between the rich and the poor. This phenomenon was vividly portrayed by the award winning AfricanDrones project entitled ‘Unequal Scenes.’ The project used drones to visually […]
Nairobi: Will the new boss make the city work?
Nairobi’s new administration under Governor Johnson Sakaja faces an uphill task at ensuring the just principles of Dignity, Equity and Diversity, Rights and Responsibilities, Democracy for the citizens. However, a lot is achievable.
Paratransit: A look at Nairobi’s Public Transport Relocation Plans
A major topic of discussion in Nairobi, Kenya, over the last few months revolves around the proposed relocation of paratransit vehicles (known as matatus in Kenya and minibus taxis in parts of the continent) to the fringes of the Central Business District (CBD). ‘Nairobi Metropolitan Services’ (NMS), the newly formed authority that has taken over […]
Covid-19: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Pandemics provide us with opportunities to reflect on our spatial management: good impacts, bad effects and ugly incidences. Although the general trend is that we are coerced into making short term changes; in many spheres, pandemics can serve as potential triggers for implementing long term improvement. The Covid-19 pandemic has been no exception. Some key […]
Nairobi Expressway: Misjudged Priorities?
The Kenyan Government launched the Construction of the Nairobi Expressway on 16th October 2019. The project consists of a 26 Km road expansion of which 11 Km will be elevated crossing right through the city of Nairobi. The Kenya National Highways Authority had circulated a document giving some information on the proposed project. The pamphlet […]
Discussant: How Do Transportation Planners Plan for Unplanned Transport?
It is a great honour and privilege to have this opportunity to make some comments and reflections on this very important paper by Ms. Tamara Kerzhner. I use the word ‘important’ because of the critical role that paratransit sector plays on the continent. If you allow me to quote researcher Jackie Klopp who during last […]
No Progress without Accepting Prevailing SocioEconomic Conditions!
The Governor of Nairobi recently stated in a local talk show that it is his desire for Nairobi to be an ‘International City.’ This can be presumed to mean a city that is attractive to foreign investment, conferences and tourism. These attributes are not new to the City of Nairobi. A large percentage of Nairobi’s […]
The Otherwise Podcast Episode 77: The Problem With Our Roads
The Otherwise Podcast looks at ways of understanding and possibly changing the situation in Kenya. As the guest in this weeks’ episode we looked at ‘Road Safety and Urban Planning.’ This followed the recent directive by the Ministries of Transport and Interior. We discussed the aspects of the paratransit industry, link between land use management […]
Africa: Only 2 BRTs North of Limpopo and South of the Sahara!
The recent increase in Africa’s urban motorized population has brought about several discussions on the need for sustainable and inclusive urban mobility. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Aerial Cable Cars, Monorail, Metro Systems and improved Non-Motorized Transport are now common terms in African newsrooms and professional transport conversations. Unlike cities in other parts of the world, […]
