Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has urged residents to stop dumping waste and riding bicycles on pedestrian walkways as the county seeks to maintain the newly improved cabro paths across the city.
Sakaja said the county had invested in pedestrian walkways and street lighting to make Nairobi safer and more accessible for people walking to work, visiting businesses or moving around the Central Business District (CBD).
Speaking on October 21, 2026, the governor asked residents to take care of the facilities, warning that careless use and poor maintenance could undermine the improvements.
“We have invested heavily in walkways and non-motorised transport. Every city with high tourism levels needs walkability. People need to walk in a better environment,” Sakaja said.
He noted that Nairobi’s CBD attracts an estimated seven million people during the day, highlighting the need for well-maintained walkways in an area where thousands of people move on foot.
The county plans to extend quality walkways across Nairobi, with improvements underway along key routes, including the corridor from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to ABC Place in Westlands.
Sakaja’s Directive on the Use of Walkways
The governor warned residents against using pedestrian paths for activities that interfere with their intended purpose, particularly cycling.
“Let us not misuse them. No bikes on the walkways. They are for our people to walk, and we must take responsibility for them,” he said.
He also urged residents to stop dumping waste in public spaces, saying the practice could undermine efforts to improve the city’s appearance and keep the walkways usable.
Sakaja said residents had a role to play in protecting the facilities, alongside the county government’s efforts to keep them clean and in good condition.
County Sets Aside Money for Maintenance
Sakaja said the county had allocated funds for walkway maintenance and deployed Green Army teams to support cleaning and upkeep.
He urged residents to work with the county to keep the facilities in good condition after construction.
“We have a maintenance budget, and we have teams from the Green Army who clean. It is about all of us joining hands and supporting the maintenance of these walkways,” the governor said.
The county’s maintenance efforts form part of its wider plan to improve public spaces and make pedestrian routes more accessible to residents and visitors.
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Sakaja Explains Plan for Street Lighting as Nairobi Seeks Partnerships to Maintain Public Spaces
The county is also installing street lighting alongside the cabro walkways, with plans to extend coverage across Nairobi.
Sakaja said the lighting would make it easier for people to walk around the city in the evening.
“Our vision is to make sure every corner of the city is covered. Let us stop dumping in these places; they are beautiful. Walk at 6pm and see people walking, with lighting that is now following the cabro. It will cover Nairobi,” he said.
The county has linked the walkway improvements and street lighting to its broader urban renewal plans, which aim to improve public spaces across the city.
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Sakaja also invited private companies, corporations and other partners to work with the county to maintain public infrastructure.
He said partnerships would help protect the improvements and ensure public spaces remained in good condition.
“We welcome partnerships with people and corporations so that we can work together to maintain public places,” he said.
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