The Nairobi City County Government has officially joined the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), becoming one of more than 30 cities worldwide benefiting from a renewed global effort to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries through evidence-based interventions.
The partnership was formally launched in Nairobi on Tuesday, bringing together county officials, road safety experts, law enforcement agencies, development partners, and civil society organisations committed to improving road safety outcomes in the capital.
Bloomberg Philanthropies Targets Life-Saving Interventions
Speaking during the launch, Kelly Larson of Bloomberg Philanthropies said the initiative’s primary goal is to save lives by supporting proven road safety strategies around the world.
Larson noted that Bloomberg Philanthropies has been investing in road safety since 2007 and estimates that its interventions have helped save nearly one million lives globally.
According to Larson, approximately 1.19 million people die annually on roads worldwide, with nearly 90 per cent of fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Nairobi alone, around 550 people lose their lives in road crashes each year.
She said Nairobi’s inclusion in the programme will strengthen efforts to improve road safety data, redesign streets to prioritise people rather than vehicles, support public awareness campaigns, and enhance enforcement of traffic laws through collaboration with the police.
“We follow the data,” Larson said, emphasising that reducing road traffic fatalities remains a key priority for Bloomberg Philanthropies and its partners.
Focus on Speed Management and Motorcycle Safety
Larson highlighted speeding as one of the leading causes of road fatalities globally, accounting for nearly half of all road deaths.
She said the initiative will place significant emphasis on speed management, noting that reducing vehicle speeds lowers crash risks and fatalities. Motorcycle safety will also be a major focus over the next four and a half years, as motorcycle-related crashes continue to rise worldwide.
The programme will support interventions aimed at increasing helmet use and addressing risky road behaviours among riders.
Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Mobility and Works, Ibrahim Nyangoya, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a transformative programme that aligns with the county’s vision of creating safer, healthier, and more inclusive urban spaces.
Nyangoya said road crashes remain one of the greatest public health and development challenges facing cities today.
According to data from the National Police Service, Nairobi recorded approximately 560 road fatalities in 2024. Pedestrians accounted for nearly half of those deaths, while motorcyclists and pillion passengers remained among the most vulnerable road users.
“Behind these statistics are grieving families, lost opportunities and communities affected by preventable tragedies,” Nyangoya said.
He identified unsafe pedestrian crossings, speeding, dangerous road user behaviour, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient enforcement, and low public awareness as some of the key contributors to road crashes in the city.
County Highlights Ongoing Safety Measures
The county government outlined several interventions already being implemented to improve road safety. These include road safety education programmes in schools, first responder training for boda boda riders in partnership with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), and the National Police Service.
The county has also undertaken the identification and mapping of accident black spots and expanded pedestrian infrastructure across parts of the city to reduce interactions between pedestrians and vehicles.
Nyangoya noted that recent improvements to walkways and non-motorised transport infrastructure within the Central Business District have contributed to safer movement for pedestrians.
Strengthening Institutions and Partnerships
The county said the Bloomberg initiative presents an opportunity to strengthen institutional capacity, improve road safety data systems, enhance public awareness campaigns, support better enforcement strategies, and improve emergency response mechanisms.
Nyangoya called for clear implementation frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and collaboration agreements to ensure effective delivery of the programme and long-term sustainability of interventions.
He emphasised the central role of the Nairobi City County Transport and Safety Committee in coordinating road safety efforts and aligning programme activities with county priorities.
Success to Be Measured by Lives Saved
County officials said the success of the initiative would not be measured by the number of meetings held or reports produced, but by tangible reductions in deaths and serious injuries on Nairobi’s roads.
“The success of this initiative will be measured by the lives that are saved, the injuries that are prevented, the safer streets that are created, and the confidence with which residents move throughout the city,” Nyangoya said.
With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and international road safety partners, Nairobi hopes to accelerate progress toward safer roads and demonstrate that road deaths and serious injuries are preventable through coordinated action, effective policies, and sustained investment.