Nairobi Launches Sports Corridors to Combat Urban Inactivity and Obesity

Nairobi City County rolled out 12 Active Transport Corridors on September 1, 2025—car-free zones on Sundays linking parks, schools, and markets for walking, cycling, and calisthenics. Stretching 4–7km each (e.g., Uhuru Park–Karura, Eastleigh–Pangani), the corridors feature pop-up courts, fitness instructors, and healthy food stalls. In 3 months, 220,000 residents participated weekly; MOH recorded a 19% rise in moderate physical activity among adults. Funded by WHO’s *Healthy Cities* grant and corporate partners, the initiative trained 300 Movement Ambassadors from informal settlements. Health starts with feet—not pills, said Governor Sakaja. The model is being replicated in Kisumu and Nakuru. NCD Alliance Kenya called it the most scalable public health intervention of the decade.