Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja /HANDOUTNairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja says the county's ongoing cabro paving programme in the Central Business District (CBD) has transformed pedestrian movement so significantly that the only complaints he now receives are from shoe shiners who believe the upgrades are affecting their livelihoods.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi, he decided to respond to concerns about the city's pavement works, Sakaja said the newly paved walkways have eliminated much of the dust that previously accumulated on people's shoes.
"Today you can walk from Haile Selassie to the university without dust on your shoes. In fact, now the fight I have is with shoe shiners. They're saying now I'm running them out of business," Sakaja said.
He said the cabro paving project is part of the county's broader vision of creating a more walkable city with improved public spaces rather than simply replacing old pavements.
"A city is about walkability, creating open spaces and having outdoor restaurants because of that experience," he said.
Sakaja also dismissed concerns that the extensive paving could contribute to flooding during heavy rains, saying the works had been designed by engineers with drainage infrastructure in mind.
"We are not doing it in an ad hoc manner. We have engineers. The cabro that we're doing drains into those gully pots," he said.
The governor said blocked drainage systems remain a bigger challenge than the paving works, blaming indiscriminate dumping of waste into storm water drains.
"We really must talk to citizens. There's a place where you open a gully pot and you find a mattress. A mattress has been put inside. Or people dumping into those gully pots," he said.
He added that the county has incorporated measures to improve storm water management, including spaces for tree planting and natural water absorption.
"We'll make sure it's not a recipe for flooding because we also need natural ways of absorbing the runoff and absorbing the water. Every few metres we've put provisions for planting trees, and we're bringing grown trees," Sakaja said.
The governor said the upgraded public spaces have also changed how residents interact with the city centre, particularly during weekends.
"Come to town on Sunday. You see young people have come in. They're taking photos. They're taking videos. It's an experience," he said.
The remarks come months after Nairobi County accelerated the second phase of its CBD regeneration programme, which has seen several streets fitted with new cabro walkways and upgraded pedestrian corridors.
The works have covered the Ambassador area along Moi Avenue, Moi Service Lane near Gil House, the Kenya Cinema stretch, Archives Square through Tom Mboya Street, parts of Haile Selassie Avenue and the Kencom Square–Taifa Lane connection.
In December last year, Mobility and Works CEC Ibrahim Auma said the second phase built on the momentum created by the first phase launched in 2023, which upgraded Charles Rubia Road, Mfangano Street and other lower CBD streets.
"What you're seeing now in the CBD is only one component of a broader citywide overhaul. We have similar upgrades happening in Westlands, Upper Hill and densely populated areas. The intention is to expand pedestrian spaces and keep pace with Nairobi's increasing foot traffic," Auma said.
At the time, he also announced that Sakaja had approved a third phase of the regeneration programme, which is expected to extend improvements from the Tom Mboya Monument along Moi Avenue to Central Police Station and the Kimathi Monument–Revlon House corridor near Nation Centre.
County officials have maintained that the wider regeneration programme is intended to improve pedestrian mobility, enhance safety, reduce congestion and modernise Nairobi's public spaces rather than serve as a beautification project alone.
