Smart Lights, Smart City: Sakaja Relies on Technology to Secure and Power Nairobi’s Nights

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 26 January 2026 - Nairobi City County’s plan to roll out smart street lighting in partnership with the National Government marks a significant shift in how the capital is confronting long-standing challenges of insecurity, poor service delivery and uneven urban development.

Beyond the numbers, the initiative signals Governor Johnson Sakaja’s broader push to use technology as both a governance tool and a development equaliser.

The county currently operates about 70,000 street lights against an estimated requirement of 110,000, leaving a deficit of roughly 40,000 lights.

Entire neighbourhoods, particularly in informal settlements and peripheral estates, still plunge into darkness at night—conditions that have long been linked to crime, disrupted mobility and suppressed night-time economic activity.

Under the new plan, Nairobi will not only install additional street lights but also recalibrate and integrate existing ones into a smart system capable of real-time monitoring, fault detection and rapid maintenance response.

Governor Sakaja framed the project as central to his administration’s vision of a safer, more inclusive and economically active city.

“A well-lit city is a safer city,” Sakaja said.

“Smart street lighting is not just about visibility; it is about restoring confidence in public spaces, supporting businesses that operate at night, and ensuring every resident—regardless of where they live—enjoys the same level of safety and service.”

The governor noted that the partnership with the National Government was designed to accelerate delivery while reducing inefficiencies that have previously plagued public infrastructure projects.

“By working with the National Government and leveraging smart technology, we are cutting down wastage, improving accountability and ensuring taxpayers get value for money,” Sakaja said.

“This is how modern cities work—data-driven, responsive and people-centred.”

The smart lighting initiative comes at a time when Nairobi is grappling with rising urban crime, frequent vandalism of public infrastructure and mounting pressure to improve service delivery amid rapid population growth.

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Governor Sakaja champions smart street lighting rollout with national support, integrating real-time monitoring to enhance security, night-time economy, and equitable urban services in Nairobi. — County officials from the Sakaja administration convene to finalise the smart street lighting rollout, in partnership with the National Government. The plan integrates real-time monitoring to boost security, energise Nairobi's night-time economy, and deliver equitable urban services across the capital | Dawan Africa

In many areas, broken or non-functional street lights have remained unrepaired for months, creating security gaps and fuelling public frustration.

County Executive Committee Member for Mobility and Works, Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya, underscored the broader urban impact of proper lighting, describing it as a catalyst for economic and social activity. “Proper street lighting plays a critical role in enhancing public safety, supporting night-time economic activities, improving mobility and deterring crime,” Auma said. “Through this partnership and the adoption of smart technology, we are ensuring efficiency, accountability and a safer, more vibrant Nairobi.”

Urban planning experts view the smart lighting rollout as part of a global trend in which cities are embedding technology into basic services to improve responsiveness and reduce long-term costs.

Smart systems allow authorities to detect faults instantly, dispatch repair teams faster and curb power losses—an issue that has quietly drained county resources in the past.

Politically, the project also feeds into Sakaja’s narrative of reforming Nairobi’s governance culture. His administration has consistently linked infrastructure upgrades to security, investment and job creation, arguing that visible improvements in public services are key to restoring trust between residents and City Hall.

Still, the success of the initiative will hinge on execution. Previous attempts to modernise Nairobi’s infrastructure have stumbled due to procurement disputes, poor maintenance and vandalism. The integration of existing lights into the smart system will test the county’s technical capacity and coordination with national agencies.

For residents, however, the promise is straightforward: brighter streets, safer nights and a city that works beyond daylight hours. If implemented effectively, the smart street lighting programme could become one of the most tangible symbols of Nairobi’s push toward becoming a truly 24-hour city—secure, efficient and economically alive.

As Sakaja put it, “Lighting up Nairobi is about more than bulbs and poles. It’s about dignity, opportunity and reclaiming our city for everyone, day and night.”