Public Lighting in Kayole Soweto
- Gloria Tanui
- Jan 27
- 2 min read
“This area was dark, there was a lot of stealing, thugs, muggings but now we have light, all these have reduced. Crime has reduced and the community can walk easily....” FGD respondent.
In the last decade, households in Kayole-Soweto received a number of infrastructure investments including roads, drainage, public lighting, and the public realm under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP).
Coordination of multiple physically networked services and utilities was made easier in Kayole-Soweto as roads were upgraded enabling subsequent utility developments (e.g. power and street lighting, as well as water, drainage, and sewerage). This “street-led” upgrading approach combined with the lighting also enabled economic activity, informal business, and public transit.
Before the electricity expansion project in Kayole Soweto, residents engaged in the study explained that very few houses had lighting in-house. They noted that during this period, they relied on illegal connections or other sources of fuel for lighting. They further mentioned that muggings were common and people were compelled to get home early enough to avoid moving around in the dark.
Before the street lighting projects in Kayole-Soweto, residents we spoke to said that safety and security were significant issues, especially among women and girls. 86% of impacts of the lighting project under KISIP were related to security (including reduction in gender-based violence and increase in safe mobility).
The residents recommend installing more street lighting in the area, especially in the riverbank zone, to help improve security. They say that currently lights are only installed along the main roads. This emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to consistent lighting throughout.