Business lobby in Sh3bn Nairobi city road safety plan

Nairobi traders have drawn a Sh3 billion public-private partnership initiative to enhance safety on major highways through the use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).

The Nairobi Central Business District Association says that under the joint venture, the government would install the cameras which would be maintained by the private sector.

“We have made the proposal to security-related government agencies outlining a public-private partnership in equipping major highways with the technology,” said Timothy Muriuki, the NCBDA chairman.

The technology will enable a third party to monitor activity on the highways from a surveillance station, a move that would ease the capacity problem that has for years dogged the policing of roads.

Mr Muriuki, who is contesting for the Nairobi governorship, was speaking during the public transport stakeholders’ legal awareness programme in Nairobi.

Steve Murunga, the Matatu Owners Association vice-chairman, said the technology would eradicate “cumbersome court procedures that only fuel corruption.”
“The CCTV technology is already in place in many major cities to keep an eye on known hotspots within the highway grid. We must join that club,” Mr Murunga said.
Kevin Kagiri, a CCTV expert, said the technology would significantly enhance the response to road crashes because the information would be shared in real time. More than 3,000 Kenyans die in road crashes each year.

“With Internet hookups, the central control room can instantly issue distress calls on behalf of the victims of the accident,” he said. The surveillance tapes can be used in court to ascertain fault and help in deciding cases.

Kevin Andaje, a security consultant with Inter-linkage Data said the technology would assist motorists to avoid sections with jams through traffic updates by radio stations.

On fears that the surveillance would infringe on privacy, Mr Andaje said the locations of the cameras would be made public with signposts to motorists when approaching the areas.

“Rules, regulations and procedures are put in place to ensure that the cameras are used only for their intended purposes which is securing the roads,” Mr Andaje said.