The blueprint for the Nairobi Metropolitan Area’s transport future is steadily taking shape, with NaMATA driving an ambitious reform agenda anchored in structured public consultation. This month, the Authority concluded a comprehensive round of consultative county-level stakeholder workshops to advance the development of its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) — a strategic, people-centred framework designed to fundamentally transform how residents move across the metropolitan region. At its core, the SUMP prioritises the commuter, placing accessibility, safety, efficiency and sustainability at the heart of transport planning and decision-making.
Held between 3 and 26 June, a dedicated consultative workshop was convened in each of the five Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA) counties — Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Murang’a — drawing together local leaders, technical officers and sector stakeholders to interrogate mobility challenges and co-create practical, forward-looking interventions. The county workshops were followed by an open webinar, extending participation to stakeholders unable to attend the in-person sessions and reinforcing the Authority’s commitment to inclusive, region-wide engagement.
The consultations revealed a set of urgent, shared priorities that now inform the development of the plan. Across the five counties, stakeholders consistently emphasised:
- Urban Decongestion: Strategic interventions to improve the efficiency of movement and reclaim lost economic hours.
- Public Transport Enhancement: A shift toward more reliable, safe, and professionalised services.
- Non-Motorised Transport (NMT): The requirement for dedicated, safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Equity and Accessibility: Ensuring the transport network serves all residents, regardless of income, gender, or physical ability.
A critical outcome of the dialogues was the consensus on integrating transport planning with land-use policies. Stakeholders highlighted that smarter, more compact urban development is essential to reducing commute times and improving air quality, ensuring that future infrastructure investments are both cost-effective and socially beneficial.
The sessions brought together a wide spectrum of voices, from county leadership and urban planners to transport operators and civil society. These were structured, participatory forums rooted in the lived experiences of the millions who depend on the transport system daily. With the conclusion of these engagements, the insights gathered from across the five counties provide the factual foundation for a road-map that is both visionary and achievable. This collaborative process has laid the groundwork for a future where mobility is a catalyst for opportunity, dignity, and progress across the entire metropolitan area.
