Every evening, as the sun sets over Nairobi, countless residents brace themselves for the long walk home through darken streets and alleys—some clutching their bags a little tighter, others quickening their pace.
For many, the city’s broken or missing streetlights aren’t just an inconvenience; they’re a threat to life and livelihoods.
The struggle could end soon if a new motion before the Nairobi County Assembly is passed and implemented. It compels City Hall to install streetlights on major and feeder roads, including dark alleys of backstreets and downtown.
The motion by South B MCA Waithera Chege, who is also the minority leader, wants the Governor Johnson Sakaja-led executive to develop a comprehensive streetlighting policy, linking widespread insecurity in the capital to poorly lit public spaces.
Chege highlights the growing concern over the rising levels of insecurity in Nairobi, linking the trend to insufficient lighting in public spaces.
It notes that although the county government had previously installed high-mast lighting and streetlights to enhance security and promote business, most of the infrastructure is no longer functional due to widespread vandalism, theft, and poor maintenance.
The motion says that Nairobi, as the capital city, continues to experience significant growth and investment, yet this expansion is being undermined by criminal activities.
""...this Assembly urges the county executive to formulate a policy to provide for a legal framework for management of public/streetlights in the streets, public social areas, public parks, county public roads and markets in the county," it reads.
The motion says residents and businesses are increasingly falling victim to attacks by criminal gangs, resulting in injuries, deaths and loss of property. The situation is particularly dire in areas where public lighting is either inadequate or completely absent.
According to the motion, many of the county’s streets, public parks, social areas, and markets are shrouded in darkness, creating a conducive environment for criminal activities to thrive. The lack of lighting has not only made these spaces unsafe but also discouraged legitimate economic activities, especially in the early morning and late evening.
The proposed legislation stresses that for Nairobi to achieve its ambition of operating a 24-hour economy, it must guarantee the safety and security of its residents and business community. Chege asserts that proper and well-maintained public lighting is a key component in creating a secure urban environment that supports extended business hours, employment, and increased revenue generation.
She wants the county executive to take immediate steps to formulate a policy and legal framework that will provide clear direction on how street and public lighting infrastructure should be installed, maintained, protected and repaired. Such a framework is essential not only to improve the reliability of lighting systems but also to prevent further vandalism and ensure accountability within the responsible departments.
Street lighting, as outlined in Part Two of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, is a devolved function, and therefore falls within the mandate of the county government. Chege’s motion seeks to ensure that this responsibility is exercised in a structured, transparent, and effective manner.
Further, it cautions that continued neglect of the lighting infrastructure will only worsen the county’s security challenges and hinder Nairobi’s development trajectory. The lack of a coordinated policy has led to reactive and fragmented interventions that fail to address the root causes of poor lighting coverage and infrastructure decay.
The motion is expected to be debated on the floor of the assembly in the coming days. If adopted, it would compel the county executive to begin the process of drafting a street lighting policy, including legal provisions to enforce its implementation.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Chege’s proposal marks a significant step in pushing for practical, rights-based urban development policies that prioritise safety, economic growth, and good governance in Nairobi. Her emphasis on structured planning, regular maintenance, and public accountability could offer the foundation for long-term solutions to the city's persistent insecurity linked to inadequate lighting.
