Kenya
Nairobi
UMR Index Rank
#69
(=)
Score: 24%
Sustainable Mobility
#67
(-1)
Score: 29.0%
Public Transit
#69
(-1)
Score: 24.4%
Technology Adoption
#66
Score: 12.1%
| Population | 6.2 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 852 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 7,318 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 5,186 |
UMR Index Rank
#69
(=)
Score: 24%
Sustainable Mobility
#67
(-1)
Score: 29.0%
Public Transit
#69
(-1)
Score: 24.4%
Technology Adoption
#66
Score: 12.1%
What Nairobi Does Well In Urban Mobility
Nairobi has a network of well-connected roads and plans additional upgrades to further improve connectivity. The 2022 opening of the elevated Nairobi Expressway provided a modern link between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the central business district. The government also intends to improve the city’s connections with the national road network as part of its Vision 2030 program, which aims to build or rehabilitate 5,500 kilometers (3,418 miles) of roads.
The city spends more on mobility and infrastructure than its index peers. Nairobi is investing in maintaining and improving its 163-kilometer (101-mile) commuter rail network, which covers the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. This includes using a KES120 billion ($930 million) loan from France to upgrade signaling and communication systems, as well as automate level crossings, among other things. The city is also investigating upgrading nearly 60 kilometers (37 miles) of the Meter Gauge Railway’s 177-kilometer (110-mile) rail line that runs from Nairobi to Nanyuki, a city to the north, specifically the part of the line that runs from Thika to Nairobi’s central station. The upgrade would involve building new stations along the line.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Nairobi’s Transportation System
Nairobi’s public transportation system is underutilized and underdeveloped, with a low transit station density. Most passengers rely on private matutus (minibuses) or boda bodas (two-wheel motorbike taxis), which are not part of the city’s formal public transit offering. The government is building the first of five planned bus rapid transit lines with the support of the European Investment Bank. Additionally, a local startup is using a leasing model to make e-buses available, with operators paying for e-buses based on their use.
While walking is the most popular form of mobility, cycling adoption is low due to subpar infrastructure. Kenya’s National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2027 prioritizes the development of bike paths and road crossings for cyclist safety. Community initiatives are also encouraging more people to cycle, but greater efforts are needed to overcome the issue of scarce and poorly connected cycle lanes.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Nairobi Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
To improve its pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, Nairobi can invest more in dedicated walkways and bike lanes, especially ones with safety features like buffers to protect pedestrians and cyclists from motorized traffic. The city can also ensure that existing infrastructure is better maintained by regularly removing trash, fixing potholes, and ensuring no illegal parking or other prohibited activities occur. The University of Nairobi introduced a bike-share program in 2017 that the city can expand to more neighborhoods.
Nairobi lags behind in its preparation for potential disasters. With increasing risk of climate-induced disasters, the city can invest more in resilience measures. It can set construction norms for mobility infrastructure designed to better withstand natural disasters, including flexible and durable road materials, stormwater management systems, and green infrastructure. The city can also better integrate disaster risk assessments into urban planning processes and conduct regular disaster response drills and simulations to test and improve the effectiveness of its disaster management system.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley