Kenya Ranked The Fourth Most Congested Country Globally

Traffic congestion has been a major problem in most cities in Africa with devastating effects. From revenue loss to pollution the countries have immensely suffered and that’s why there is a need for the governments to come up with a better solution for the terrific congestion on roads.

According to a recent report published by Numbeo Traffic Index, Kenya is the fourth country with the worst traffic congestion globally in 2022 with a traffic index of 256.16. Other African countries that were highlighted to have the worst traffic crisis include; Nigeria (1st globally), Egypt (6th globally), South Africa (13th globally), Morocco (45th globally), and Tunisia (59th globally).

From the reports, it is evident that Kenya is making slight progress every year in alleviating traffic jams. The 2020 Numbeo report ranked Nairobi the second most congested city in Africa with a score of 276.64 on the Traffic Index. The average time spent in traffic was 56.94 minutes. In 2021, the country was ranked number three with a traffic index of 279.68.

In Kenya, it is estimated that the country loses 100 billion shillings annually, at the back of traffic congestion in the country’s capital – Nairobi, with motorists spending a lot of time on the roads. This has caused further inconveniences as commuters have to spend more time walking to the required destinations in their efforts to beat the traffic while breathing polluted air.

It is estimated that Nairobi has about 20,000 Matatus providing commercial transportation services. the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census report suggested that buses, trucks, lorries, and three-wheelers commonly known as Tuk Tuk are the most used public transport in Kenya. This undermines the common perception that Matatus are the main cause of traffic congestion in Nairobi. The report further suggested that the aforementioned vehicles are owned by 1.6% of all households in Nairobi compared to 12.9% of households that own cars used for private modes of transport.

What is the main cause of the congestion?

Various actions on the city’s roads have been mentioned as key players in the congestion of Kenya’s capital. Double parking, illegal bus stages and private cars operating as public service vehicles (PSVs) have been identified as the major cause of traffic in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

Government Measures to Combat road traffic

The expansion of Thika Road and Syokimau commuter train service was estimated to have saved motorists 80 billion shillings and 117.03 billion shillings annually, respectively in terms of delays and wasted fuel. The construction of the Nairobi expressway which is yet to be opened for public use was aimed at decongesting the city, as well as boosting the economy of the country by saving millions of shillings lost in traffic every year.

Solutions for Traffic Congestion

A number of policy instruments can be used to manage traffic congestion. These include the introduction of toll charges on major highways, the introduction of a carbon tax to raise the cost of using a motor vehicle, encouraging car-pooling and ride-sharing, and increasing parking fees within the city.