Nairobi city

When I suggested recently via social media that Kenya could emulate Nigeria by relocating its political and administrative installations to another site, a number of friends bantered that I could be intoxicated having smoked “something” or should that I go slow on strong drink.

Jokes aside, my social media views are inspired by the pleasant surprise I have encountered in Abuja, the federal capital city of Nigeria these past few days. Right from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, through the CBD, the motorways and streets are as broad as they are smooth. Thus, you do not get gridlocked as the case is with Nairobi, not even when Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is declaring his presidential candidacy at the symbolic Eagle Square in the heart of the city, as he did recently. By contrast, estimates indicate that Kenya loses Sh50 million daily due to congestion in Nairobi and its environs and Nairobians avoid the city centre like the plague whenever a big event is on.
As a purpose-built city, Abuja might just pick the trophy for being one of the best planned cities in populous parts of Africa – its confines and satellite settlements collectively boast a population of about 3 million. The main factor that impelled its establishment was the need for a centrally, neutrally located seat of government in view of Nigeria sometimes toxic ethnic mix. Lagos – the former political and administrative capital – was seen as misplaced, sitting as it does on the south-western Atlantic edge of the country. Generally, speaking, Nairobi is much more centrally located. So location can’t be exactly a compelling factor for the relocation of Kenya’s central government elsewhere.

The centrality of location factor was broached in the 1970s but real work began in the mid 1980s with Abuja designated a Federal Capital Territory in 1991. Listening to Abuja-based journalist colleagues, a number of factors beyond central location worked in consort for the fact tracking of the building of Abuja. Key among these factors was the rapid congestion and squalor of Lagos coupled by a sense of insecurity by consecutive military juntas in a sprawling, crowded city. One colleague went as far as to suggest that certain interests in the political echelons saw an opportunity for “chopping,” a Nigerian euphemism for corruption, in course of the heavy construction works.

Whether Nigerian political elites “chopped” or not is a separate cleavage to the matter. What is incontestable is that Abuja’s master plan divided into sections catering for government offices (for instance the three arms zone where parliament, judiciary and presidential palace are located), residential areas, markets, financial services and diplomatic districts has had a positive impact on roomy ambience and orderliness.

What do we see in Nairobi by contrast? The executive, judiciary and legislature – all boasting chase cars and many hangers-on – are all bang in the middle of the CBD which also serves as the national hub for commerce. The consequence is that arriving or leaving office by car is a nightmare all around. Perchance, you manage to wiggle your way out of the city centre grid onto either Mombasa or Jogoo Road. You are then confronted by chock-a-block traffic headed to industrial area, the airport and residential estates. Now if you are a high ranking government official or politician, you will, with sirens blaring, clear and block other vehicles so you can zoom to your destination. The consequence! A snarl of traffic that then spreads to places as far as Thika Road and Outer Ring. Well, why not relocate central government services elsewhere so top government and foreign dignitaries can travel with ease while Nairobians safe on fuel and reduce traffic-induced stress?          

Obviously, Kenya is today too cash-strapped to embark on a project as grand as moving the executive, legislature and judiciary to another location. But as in the case with Abuja, a commitment to a future relocation of Nairobi could be a good starting point. It would help to forewarn all manner of capital-stakeholders particularly those in the real business of making piles of money – real estate! Nairobi’s logjam is nearly irredeemable now. Even with the eye-catching architectural models we see from Nairobi’s future planners, it appears that we shall have to live with an energy sapping, fuel guzzling and insecure city into the future.

One may argue that the creation of the so-called smart cities such as the Konza Tecno city will help ease congestion on Nairobi. Konza has its value. However, at just under 80 kiometres from Nairobi, Konza is too close. Not long ago, places such as Athi River, Kitengela, Ngong, Thika, Limuru et cetera were considered separate from Nairobi. Nairobi’s protrusion has meant that these hitherto satellite towns are now part of the Nairobi conurbation, the so-called Nairobi metropolitan area. The expansion of Nairobi to these outlaying areas is exporting Nairobi’s notoriety in all directions. As evidence, just look at aerial images of places such as Athi River and Kitengela and contemplate the unruly nature of the unplanned developments there.

Sooner than later, the novelty of Konza, build on the understanding that it sits a safe distance but not too far from Nairobi will melt away as speculators erect unsightly contraptions potentially creating an eye sore of a metropolis. This is indeed the tale of Lagos, a city of some 17 million, one that, in its incessant expansion, continues to devolve chaotic planning in all directions. Because Abuja is a focus-panned city, its environs remains well supervised to prevent the sprouting of congestion-causing structures. Of course, a challenge going forward for Abuja will be how to take the rough-hewn nature of its satellite towns such as Kubwa and Gwagwalada – but at least for now, large swathes of the city are safe from what we know in Kenya as “grabiosis” and other ills.   

Another motivation for moving central government services to a new location would be the potential for creation of new wealth creation centers. Abuja for instance, has since its establishment attracted new capital as well as everyday Nigerians who provide services to the government. This has spread good fortune to the so-called north-central Nigeria. Just such thinking needs to go into planning for the relocation of top-level services from Nairobi. After all, Nairobi has developed to a point where it can grow on its own steam even when stripped of its government “headquarter” status. It would indeed retain its commercial capital status. Yet, other, median-located areas of Kenya could do with the boost that having a state house, lower and upper houses of parliament and the chief justice’s chambers, can afford.        

Isn’t time therefore that we started planning ahead by designating another centrally located area as a future capital? Would places such as Nanyuki, Archer’s Post or Laisamis – serve as Kenya’s capital of the future?   

By Bob Wekesa   

The author is Research Associate at Witwatersrand University, South Africa and PhD candidate at Communication University of China, job.wekesa@wits.ac.za