City Planning and Policy Frameworks and their Implications for School Transport in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

City planning frameworks in African cities have largely failed to address school transport, resulting in unregulated, costly, and unsafe systems. This study examines Nairobi's policy and planning framework governing school transport, evaluating its effectiveness and proposing improvements. A mixed-methods longitudinal design analysed 18 policy instruments (1948–2025), eight legal frameworks, institutional interviews, household surveys (n=96), pupil surveys (n=80), school surveys (n=19), GIS analysis, and secondary data comparing 2010 and 2025. Only six (33.3%) policy instruments referenced school transport, and no legal instrument created affirmative government obligations. Institutional responsibility is fragmented across five agencies, with 92% of officials citing unclear leadership. Despite a 227% increase in schools, average walking distance remains 1.1 km. Walking accounts for 42% of trips, while students commute 1–3 hours daily. School transport consumes 41.5% of public-school education expenses. The proposed five-pillar framework integrates school neighbourhood units, safe routes, subsidised buses, non-motorised transport, and institutional reform to enhance accessibility, safety, affordability, and equity.