Ruto vows to expand and modernise Nairobi City street lighting
By Cynthia Lodite, February 17, 2026President William Ruto has vowed to step up in expanding and modernising the Nairobi City street lighting conditions, revealing that only 30% of the lighting points are fully operational in Nairobi.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, during the national government and the Nairobi County pact at State House, Nairobi, Ruto explained the urge to revive Nairobi’s city stature through ensuring fully lit and fully functional lighting points.
“On street lighting, Nairobi has about 70,000 lighting points, but only 21,000, about 30%, are fully operational today. A city of Nairobi’s stature must be fully lit, fully safe, and fully functional,” Ruto said.
While explaining the transitional plan, Ruto stated that the government will commit at least Ksh3.7 billion towards the street lighting modernisation and expansion.
In addition, Ruto confirmed that the government shall complete ten thousand pending lighting points while further installing an additional forty thousand light points.
“To address this, we are committing KSh 3.7 billion towards street lighting modernisation and expansion. Under this agreement, we will complete 10,000 and install an additional 40,000 light points,’ Ruto added.
On his part, Ruto explained that because high electricity costs contribute to outages, the government will therefore transition progressively to solar solutions.
Also adding that the government will commercialise lighting poles so that advertising revenue supports maintenance.
On his part, the head of state explained that going forward, the construction of new roads will include lighting by design.
City safety measures
At the same time, President Ruto affirmed his contribution to ensuring a safe City for not just city dwellers but also tourists and investors by creating the Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.
Ruto directed the Interior Cabinet Secretary to prepare and present a framework for a dedicated Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to work hand in hand with Nairobi County security.
“I direct the Interior Cabinet Secretary to prepare and present, within 60 days, a framework for a dedicated Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit to work hand in hand with Nairobi County security,” Ruto stated.
According to the Head of State, the move is expected to ensure a safe Nairobi for not just citizens but also visitors, investors, and businesses.
“We must make Nairobi safe for citizens, visitors, investors, and businesses,” he added.