The Nairobi City County Government has today announced a new collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) aimed at promoting and enhancing road safety across Nairobi County.Nairobi joins more than 30 cities globally that will participate in this initiative, which is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ $350 million global commitment to prevent traffic deaths and injuries worldwide, announced by Mike Bloomberg at CityLab 2026 in April.
Each year, more than one million people – including over 4000 people in Kenya lose their lives in road crashes, and another 20 to 50 million are injured, many with lifelong disabilities. Most of these deaths and injuries are not accidents, but the result of system failures including poorly designed roads, and public policies and urban design that favors vehicle speed over public health and safety.
The initiative seeks to support proven policies and interventions that make roads safety for all and create more sustainable urban mobility systems.Nairobi County’s participation will help advance efforts to improve road design, support enforcement initiatives, and expand connected cycling and pedestrian infrastructure within Nairobi.Speaking during the official kickoff meeting, Nairobi Governor H.E. Johnson Sakaja welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to improving road safety in the capital city.
“We are delighted to be part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety. As the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi serves a large and rapidly growing population, making this collaboration both timely and critical,” said Governor Sakaja.
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“This partnership will greatly strengthen our ongoing efforts to protect and safeguard the lives of Nairobi residents. We remain committed to working closely with the BIGRS initiative and are grateful for the technical support and expertise that this partnership will provide.
”Governor Sakaja further noted that road safety remains a key priority for the county government as Nairobi continues to expand its urban mobility systems and infrastructure.Hon. Ibrahim Nyangoya, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Mobility and Works, also commended Bloomberg Philanthropies for inviting Nairobi as part of the global initiative and pledged the county’s commitment to fostering multi-sectoral collaboration to improve road safety outcomes.
“As the Department of Mobility and Works, we are committed to embracing the Safe System Approach and ensuring that our interventions are informed by evidence, global best practices, and data-driven solutions,” said Hon. Nyangoya.
“We shall continue working closely with all relevant stakeholders to implement sustainable road safety measures that will ultimately save lives and protect vulnerable road users across Nairobi.
”Road traffic crashes claim nearly 1.2 million lives every year worldwide, including approximately 560 lives in Nairobi City County. We are proud to welcome Nairobi City County to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a global partnership dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries on our roads.
Through this initiative, we work with governments to strengthen road safety policies, improve the use of data to guide interventions, and implement proven, life-saving measures in cities around the world. These efforts include safer speed management, stronger traffic law enforcement, and street designs that prioritize the safety of all road users.”— Kelly Larson, Bloomberg PhilanthropiesUnder the initiative, Nairobi will receive support in several key areas, including:• Implementing proven road safety policies and infrastructure improvements•
Strengthening efforts to reduce dangerous speeding, a contributing factor in nearly 50% of road traffic fatalities globally• Enhancing data collection, monitoring, and evidence-based decision-makingNairobi now joins a growing network of cities and regions across 13 countries participating in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety.
Other participating locations include: Buenos Aires and Córdoba (Argentina); Chittagong (Chattogram) and Dhaka North (Bangladesh); Campinas, Salvador, São Paulo State, and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Cali and Medellín (Colombia); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador); Oromia State (Ethiopia); Karnataka State, Maharashtra State (including Mumbai and Pune), Delhi (India); Mombasa and Nairobi (Kenya); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Jalisco State and Mexico City (Mexico); Kampala (Uganda); and Da Nang and Hanoi (Vietnam).
