Why Nairobi has small camera crews recording traffic on the streets and footbridges

 

Cars leaving a flyover near Mlolongo. FILE

An activity that began on February 20 was to have camera teams observe the traffic movement on various lanes along the many pedestrian walkways that are located across the metropolis.

Before sunrise and later on, when there was a lot of foot traffic, the team set up several tiny cameras on various footbridges.

A small camera team could be seen at a few different locations, including a footbridge near the West End complex along Waiyaki Way, many pedestrian overpasses along Thika Road and Mombasa Road, and other locations.

Throughout that time period, the team took recordings of various people using the road, including drivers, passengers, and some other road users.

A security guard who was stationed at a footbridge near the West End apartments on Waiyaki Way said that the team's job was to gather information to help the authorities do an audit of the roads.

He went on to say that the information gathered was very important because it helped the government and other partners evaluate the risks on the heavily travelled roads.

The person in charge of the checkpoint said that the information gathered was used to decide how safe the roads should be.

As school-aged youngsters were put in danger by speeding automobiles while crossing Waiyaki, the security assistant pointed out that wire mesh and guards were installed along the road as a response. He said this in order to defend his original comments.

School going kids waiting to cross the road near Desmond Tutu center. FILE

They have been here before, so this is not a new occurrence. They are sent out into the field to help the authorities gather data for the purpose of assisting in risk assessment.

You might remember that after the Nairobi Expressway was built, the road was made wider, making it hard for people on foot to cross.

These pieces of data and film contributed to the formation of the resolution to install wire mesh and protective rails along Waiyaki Way, as he said.

He ordered that the team be put to work on roads all around the city that were being repaved, widened, or constructed from scratch.

He argued that it assists the government in gathering information that can be used to prevent incidents of road accidents or even designs that endanger people. "It simply helps the government get information," he said.

But he did not reveal the identity of the organisation that had been tasked with collecting the data on behalf of the authorities.