Nairobi and many parts of Kenya should be listed as risky places to live if something is not done urgently about the motorbike menace.
I am lately a frequent visitor to the Central Business District, and the motorbikes coming from right, left and all over are a source of disgust about our beautiful CBC.
I mean, former Governors Evans Kidero, Mike Sonko, and Anne Kananu tried to keep the CBD sane, but current Governor Johnson Sakaja is either not informed or absent.
Right from downtown, from the enclaves of Kirinyaga Road and River Road, from the busy Moi Avenue to affluent areas like Parliament Road and Koinange Street, there are motorbikes appearing from all directions.
I mean, a road going right has motorbikes going left and vice versa.
Traffic lights for those bike riders don’t make sense, simply because they are using the wrong side of the road.
Walking in town, except for the safe places along the alleys, is not safe anymore, you have to break the rules you are taught early in life, that looking left, right, left again is enough.
Now you have to repeat the rule a good number of times before crossing. CBDs, especially of a capital city, should be a country’s epitome of order.
When you visit France, all you want first is go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre and take beautiful undestructed? pictures that relive/revive? memories over and over.
There is a reason main ports of entry, such as like airports, are in capitals.
This is because, the capital serves as the heartbeat of the country, and the CBD serves as the heartbeat of the capital.
Paris is not perfect, but it can serve a simple example of how CBDs should be. Central Business Districts serve as the economic and cultural heartbeat of cities, shaping their identity and functionality.
A well-planned and efficiently utilised CBD enhances economic growth, encourages social interactions, and strengthens a city’s global standing.
Just like Paris, across the world, several cities have optimised their CBDs, providing valuable lessons for urban development.
Singapore a perfect example of careful city planning and caring about the well-being of their citizens.
The country has developed one of the most efficient CBDs in the world by prioritising sustainability and smart infrastructure.
The country has cutting-edge green buildings, an extensive public transit system, and a pedestrian-friendly layout that prioritises safety from the young to the very old.
The city has also invested in underground pedestrian networks and sky bridges to enhance accessibility.
I’m imagining the last thing the Governor or head of the city would think of is having motorcycles being ridden everywhere and anywhere.
Melbourne, Australia, is another good case study. Melbourne’s CBD is known for its walk-ability, vibrant lanes, and well-maintained public spaces.
The city has transformed its streetscape by reducing car dependency and encouraging pedestrian movement.
We may not be there yet,
like Singapore and Australia, among
others, in terms of development and
financial muscle, but what is most
important is the fact that the safety
and well-being of citizens of Nairobi’s CBD should be taken into consideration
