NTSA officers enforce footbridge usage at the Nyayo Roundabout in Nairobi, July 31, 2026. /SCREENGRABAt least 250 pedestrians have been arrested in Nairobi over the past 10 days as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) intensifies a crackdown on failure to use designated footbridges.
Jaywalking and crossing busy highways instead of using pedestrian crossing infrastructure is treated as an offence under traffic laws, with offenders liable to prosecution for wilful obstruction of the free flow of traffic.
Speaking during the crackdown on Friday, NTSA assistant director Brenda Sawe said 250 pedestrians had been arrested in the city since July 20 for failing to use designated footbridges.
"Today we've arrested a total of 40 pedestrians who failed to use the footbridge, and this exercise is going to continue. We started it around the 20th of July; so far, up to today we've arrested 250 and have been presented to court," she said.
The authority later updated the day's arrests to 51 pedestrians.
NTSA is enforcing compliance in collaboration with the National Police Service as it seeks to reduce pedestrian-related road accidents and fatalities.
Those found failing to use footbridges face fines ranging from Sh500 to Sh5,000, or arrest and arraignment in court.
The crackdown comes amid concerns over the high number of pedestrians killed in road crashes.
Pedestrians account for nearly 38 per cent of all road traffic fatalities in Kenya.
Despite the risks and penalties associated with jaywalking, pedestrians continue to cross busy roads at undesignated points, including along major highways such as Thika Superhighway, Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way.
However, compliance has also been complicated by concerns over the condition, accessibility and security of some footbridges in Nairobi.
Some pedestrians avoid the structures because of commercial encroachment, crime concerns and the inconvenience of having to walk longer distances to reach access points.
Hawkers have occupied sections of some footbridges, restricting movement, while some pedestrians fear being attacked by criminals lurking in sections of the structures.
The location of some footbridges has also emerged as a barrier to compliance, with pedestrians sometimes choosing to cross the road for convinience rather than walk several extra metres to reach an access point.
For elderly pedestrians and those carrying heavy loads, climbing long flights of stairs can also be challenging.
Some footbridges have also been occupied by street families, further restricting passage, while users have reported unpleasant odours and waste on poorly maintained structures.
Sawe said the crackdown would continue until compliance improves.
"We are hoping that at the end of this exercise, we are going to achieve changing behaviour because this is an offence that is due to behaviour."
