Nairobi County has secured a legal reprieve after the High Court dismissed a case seeking to stop the ongoing cabro paving and pedestrian walkway project in the Central Business District (CBD).
The petition challenged the county government’s implementation of the infrastructure project, arguing that it violated constitutional provisions and procurement laws governing public projects.
The ruling comes amid a wider dispute over the legality, transparency and implementation of the works, which have involved the installation of cabro-paved walkways and other non-motorised transport infrastructure across parts of the city centre.
Human rights activist Francis Awino filed the case on July 30, 2026, seeking court orders to halt the works and challenge the decisions, approvals, contracts and procurement processes associated with the project.
The dispute covers construction activities along Haile Selassie Avenue, Moi Avenue, Taifa Lane, the Kencom area and neighbouring streets within the CBD.
Awino argued that the project had been implemented without adequate compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements relating to public participation, procurement, transparency and accountability.
He also raised concerns about pedestrian safety, claiming that construction had left some walkways excavated, blocked or difficult to access. He called for adequate warning signs, barriers and alternative pedestrian routes to protect pedestrians and motorists around the construction sites.
The activist further sought access to project records, including procurement plans, tender documents, contracts, bills of quantities and payment records, arguing that the information was necessary to scrutinise the planning, funding and implementation of the works.
Nairobi County opposed the application, arguing that the petition sought broad court orders without identifying specific decisions, contracts or procurement processes that had allegedly breached the law.
In its grounds of opposition dated August 24, 2026, the county maintained that the allegations required evidence linking the disputed works to specific legal or procedural violations. It also argued that halting the project could disrupt essential public infrastructure works and interfere with functions assigned to the county government.
The legal dispute has unfolded as the county continues to promote improvements to pedestrian infrastructure in the CBD. On October 22, Governor Johnson Sakaja urged residents to protect the newly improved walkways, saying the investment was intended to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility and the appearance of public spaces.
Sakaja also highlighted street lighting and maintenance efforts as part of the county’s wider urban improvement programme, calling on residents to avoid dumping waste and misusing pedestrian spaces.
The court’s reported dismissal of the petition marks a development in the dispute over the project.
