In Summary
- Governor Johnson Sakaja has described the project as part of Nairobi’s wider transformation agenda aimed at improving infrastructure and enhancing the city’s appeal to residents, investors and even visitors.
- Mudenda says prolonged heat contributed to worsening respiratory illnesses and was linked to environmental conditions that fueled cholera outbreaks, which recorded approximately 16,000 cases and 618 deaths in Zambia.
- The researcher emphasized the need for urban cooling strategies, including expanding green spaces, improving ventilation in buildings and training community heat champions to help residents adapt to rising temperatures.
As Nairobi County rolls out new Cabro pavements across the Central Business District (CBD) in a bid to modernise the city, health and environmental experts are warning that rapid urban development must be accompanied by climate-sensitive planning.
Nairobi Streets Upgrade
The ongoing upgrade, which covers major streets including Mama Ngina Street, Kaunda Street, Standard Street and sections of Moi Avenue, has been welcomed by many residents and businesses for improving accessibility, pedestrian safety and the overall appearance of the city.
The newly installed pavements feature interlocking cabro blocks, designated walkways and ramps for persons with disabilities, reflecting the county government’s efforts to create a more inclusive and attractive urban environment.
Governor Johnson Sakaja has described the project as part of Nairobi’s wider transformation agenda aimed at improving infrastructure and enhancing the city’s appeal to residents, investors and even visitors.
Business owners operating within the CBD, including retailers, hotels and foreign exchange bureaus, say the improvements could increase foot traffic and eventually boost economic activity.
Residents have also welcomed the changes, saying the upgraded walkways make movement within the city centre safer and more comfortable.
However, as Nairobi expands its concrete infrastructure, experts are cautioning that cities must consider the health effects associated with rising urban temperatures.
Urban Heat and Diseases
Speaking during a Science Media Café on health and the environment, University of Zambia researcher Mweetwa Mudenda warned that urban heat, driven by expanding paved surfaces and dense construction, can contribute to respiratory and non-communicable diseases.
Presenting findings on urban health, pollution and disease burden in Zambia, Mudenda said changing city landscapes characterized by extensive paving and tall buildings can trap heat and worsen environmental conditions.
“if you come From a set up as me is that You don’t want to walk In your Town and be seen Polishing your Shoes as you walk from one office to the other….now that comes with a cost,” he said.
“It means that the surfaces have to be paved.…And now that comes with a cost, it means that places where water needs to drain and Recharge might also be covered…. It means that there will be. Little grass that is in the city”
“It means that sometimes there Will Be Little overhead cover In the form of tree canopies in the city, so cities generally will present Themselves as having surfaces That will Absorb heat and really not Take it anywhere, but radiate it back hence Resulting in quite some Increased amount of temperature,”
He cited Lusaka as an example, noting that the city experienced more than 125 days of temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in 2024.
“Zambia’s urban centers Are actually experiencing an environmental shift, and I think this is not Different. To most of the cities that. Directly threaten the public health,”
According to his presentation, prolonged heat contributed to worsening respiratory illnesses and was linked to environmental conditions that fueled cholera outbreaks, which recorded approximately 16,000 cases and 618 deaths.
“In many urban areas You have Less than 25% of households that are usually connected to piped water or adequate Sanitation, so with increased temperature there Is a likelihood of increased contamination. In the available water thereby triggering. Diseases such as cholera and E.coli,”
Solutions
The researcher emphasized the need for urban cooling strategies, including expanding green spaces, improving ventilation in buildings and training community heat champions to help residents adapt to rising temperatures.
He called for integrated urban planning that considers health, climate and infrastructure simultaneously. He stressed the importance of community engagement, early warning systems and investment in green infrastructure to protect urban populations from climate-sensitive diseases.
“One way is urban cooling and adaptation, in the Netherlands for example they are greening their concrete buildings…you have these plants grow on buildings so that the building surfaces can easily Be insulated by vegetation and can also be able to absorb the heat that comes in from the external environment,”
“We should also have centers or places that have the ability to provide Ventilation…am talking of markets that have ventilation to allow airflow and in the densely populated neighborhoods,”
“Training of local Heat champions in the Communities Is Also a good strategy, in that they will be able to identify areas that are hot and advice on whether to plant trees or what can be done to cool down those places,”
The concerns mirror growing debate among Nairobi residents, particularly on social media, where some users have questioned whether the city’s ongoing beautification efforts are being matched by adequate greening initiatives.
Critics argue that while pavements and modern infrastructure are important, sustainable cities also require trees, parks and green spaces that help reduce heat, improve air quality and promote public health.
“I think Governor Sakaja is trying with cabro but a need for sustainable City development is missing, apart from the few palm trees, I have not seen a proper greening activity, “@BotaniqueDng said on X.
As Nairobi pursues its vision of becoming a modern African capital, experts say the challenge will be balancing infrastructure development with environmental sustainability and public health.
