Nairobi is suffocating under the concrete jungle in the name of ‘development’. From Waiyaki Way to Thika Road, and from Ngong Road to Uhuru Highway and Mombasa Road, Nairobi is dying. Gone is the Nairobi of wide and open blue skies with scattered white cotton wool-like clouds, colourful bougainvillea, tree-lined avenues and welcoming yellow lights.
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Too many superhighways, expressways, foot bridges and pedestrian footpaths without trees and flowers are an assault to the eye and the environment. Almost everyone who knew the Nairobi of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s is feeling overwhelmed by how rapidly Nairobi’s landscape is changing for the worse.
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The massive push for infrastructure like expressways, bypasses, footbridges and superhighways is dramatically altering the visual and environmental fabric of the city.
Heavy concrete structures are replacing iconic green spaces, trees and natural vistas, making the city look stark and dying.
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A layered maze of overpasses, toll gates and massive concrete pillars creates a chaotic, claustrophobic urban landscape that disrupts the city’s natural skyline. Massive expanses of asphalt and concrete absorb and trap heat. This makes the city significantly warmer than it used to be.
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Replacing soil with concrete prevents rainwater from being absorbed into the ground. This overloads the city’s drainage systems and leads to severe floods during rainy seasons. Expressways encourage more private vehicles, keeping emissions and traffic noise levels high right through the heart of the city.
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Many pedestrian footpaths and footbridges require climbing steep, exhausting flights of stairs, making them inaccessible for the elderly, disabled or those carrying heavy loads.
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