Nairobi’s Public Transport System Through the Lens of Socially Just Public Transport

Le résumé fourni par la source

Cities in the global south are growing at exponential rates.Africa currently has the highest rate of urbanisation globally and it is believed that by 2050, African cities will have doubled in population (Muggah, R. and Hill, K. 2018).Big Cities are growing into their adjacent regions forming metropolitan areas while intermediate cities are also experiencing an influx of population.Amidst all this, problems of urban inequalities continue to be on the rise.Urban mobility continues to be one of the crucial aspects of urban life.According to Souza (2019), while urban space continues to reproduce, amplify and consolidate inequalities; mobility is one of the most brutal indicators of these differences primarily through the painful and difficult methods of transportation that the majority of the population have to go through.This is not an exception in Nairobi, which stands out for its large walking population, perennial traffic jams and actively dominant paratransit system, known as matatus.Government officials, researchers and development partners have conducted several studies looking into obtaining sustainable mobility solutions for the city and its environs.Proposals such as bus rapid transit, commuter rail systems and highway expansion (like the Nairobi Expressway) have been put forward and are getting implemented.However, these only serve a small faction of the population of over 5 million people who travel within and through Nairobi daily.This study took a look into the existing paratransit sector, consisting of privately owned buses and minibuses and used by 30% of the population (JICA, 2014).The study analysed the sector through a social justice lens, using the pillars of the socially just public transport system as a guiding framework.The pillars were developed by multi-stakeholder groups include: Available, Inclusive, Sustainable, Accessible and.Affordable, Human Rights and Equity.The methodology used for the study included key informant interviews with members from the public transport sector, public authorities and users of these vehicles.Meetings were also held with members of the advocacy groups that represent marginalised groups like women and persons with disability.Field visits were made to various public transport termini and records were taken from observations, using photography and note taking.Secondary data was also obtained from existing city plans, mobility proposals and academic work done within the sector.The results bring out the emergent social justice gaps in the public transport sector.These exist not only at a policy perspective but also existing cultures and pressures that stem from the ownership structures, user expectations and worker rights.With the target based system solidly in place, immediate return of CAP, C. T Nairobi's Public Transport System through the Lens of Socially Just Public Transport investment is highly prioritised over meeting needs of marginalised groups, some of whom have emerged to be known as the 'urban invisibles.'It is without doubt, however, that the work of advocacy groups continues to slowly give a voice to these people.It proposes a wide approach while making plans regarding urban mobility that gives emphasis to the pillars of socially just public transport.These not only cover infrastructural provisions at termini and within vehicles that can enhance access and inclusivity; but also require a review of demand and supply factors such as ownership models, routing, vehicle standards and worker rights.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.