Nairobi, Kenya
Pillar: Policy and Support
Indicator: Cycling advocacy
Nairobi’s grassroots “Critical Mass” rides anchor a wide ecosystem of initiatives – Bike Trains, Kenya Cycling Women, and Toto Mass family rides – making everyday bicycling safer, more visible and more inclusive.
Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, has become one of Africa’s most promising cities for cycling. With 4.4 million residents and significant transportation challenges, one organization has become the city’s foremost voice for bicycle advocacy. Founded in 2014, Critical Mass Nairobi (CMN) uses monthly community rides, a simple, repeatable means to install a cycling culture in Kenya’s capital. Attendance averages between 300-500 riders, and in August 2024, more than 800 cyclists marked CMN’s ten-year milestone—the largest non-competitive gathering of cyclists ever recorded in Kenya.
Between rides, CMN has developed programs that keep people pedaling throughout the month. Nairobi Bike Trains organizes commuting along 10 corridors with 1,487 active members, led by trained captains who coordinate schedules and safety. Kenya Cycling Women has grown to 163 members, programming themed rides and leadership development initiatives tailored to women. Toto Mass, supported by an online community of more than 150 parents, organizes rides for families and children. Finally, the Kenya Cycling Soko digital marketplace, operating at its 1,025-member capacity, provides an honest and fair platform to spread affordable bicycles, parts, and services across the community.
The impact is visible throughout the city and in statistics. CMN’s regular visibility, skills-building, and traffic awareness programs align with a 22% reduction in cyclist casualties between 2021 and 2022. Beyond safety, the movement has strengthened and empowered cyclists across ages and gender groups, created neighborhood networks, and spotlighted policy demands, from protected bicycle lanes and safer crossings to child-friendly streets. In a city with incredible potential for everyday cycling, CMN is a trailblazer and a fundamental benchmark for cycling ambitions in Nairobi. Looking ahead, Critical Mass Nairobi is setting out plans to expand programs, deepen partnerships, and keep inviting policymakers to ride along, and thus turning monthly rides into a lasting impact, safer infrastructure, and a healthier modal mix.
“We are not just addressing mobility, we are also building a community. Our mantra, ‘Tujuane, Tujengane, Tuinuane,’ translates to ‘Let’s get to know each other, let’s build each other up, and let’s uplift each other.’” – CSM 2024 Report
