With ongoing improvements across Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) — including cabro installation, new dustbins, and upgraded street lighting — motorists are being strongly urged to keep off pedestrian walkways, especially at night, or risk facing serious legal consequences.
County Attorney Christine Ireri has cautioned that under the Nairobi City County Transport Act, 2020, willfully obstructing public passage is a punishable offense. But that’s not the only law motorists need to be aware of.
“The Public Nuisance Act goes further,” Ireri explained, “to provide that anyone who willfully or negligently damages the surface of a public road, removes or destroys county property such as streetlamps or fences, or tampers with flowers or grass along roadsides, is guilty of committing a public nuisance.”
Ireri added that under the leadership of Governor Johnson Sakaja, city inspectorate officers have intensified patrols and are authorized to tow away vehicles parked in undesignated zones and to arrest offenders who flout these regulations.
“It’s important for Nairobians to familiarize themselves with these statutory requirements. What may seem like a minor act — parking carelessly, digging up pavements, or displacing public fixtures — can attract fines, imprisonment, or both,” she warned.
As Nairobi continues to modernize, residents are reminded that adherence to county laws is not only a civic duty — it’s a legal requirement.
