Nairobi Civil Servants to Adopt Shift Work to Reduce CBD Congestion
Kenya’s public servants will soon begin working in split shifts as part of a government initiative to tackle traffic congestion in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). The Public Service Ministry has requested civil servants working and residing in Nairobi to provide information on their work locations, residences, and usual commuting routes. This data will guide the division of employees into two daily shifts, helping to decongest key roads and improve efficiency.
The initiative forms part of the Regeneration of Nairobi Programme, launched under President Uhuru Kenyatta. Douglas Ng’ang’a, Director of Administrative Services in the National Assembly, explained that the shift system aims to regulate reporting and leaving times to reduce traffic jams and promote a more conducive business environment in the capital. Currently, civil servants operate on a standard schedule of 8 am to 5 pm, totaling a 35-hour workweek. The Ministry has also inquired whether employees are self-driven and the routes they typically use, although exact shift timings have not yet been announced.
Traffic congestion in Nairobi has significant economic impacts. The World Bank estimates daily productivity losses at KSh 50 million (US$500,000) due to traffic jams, with the city contributing 12.7% of Kenya’s GDP. In addition to split shifts, the Regeneration Programme proposes car-free days on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 7 pm in designated areas, and improvements to cycling infrastructure and rapid bus transit lanes. This initiative, a collaborative effort between the national government and Nairobi County Government, seeks to improve urban mobility and overall quality of life for Nairobi’s 5.2 million residents.