Nairobi’s gridlocked roads may soon run on intelligence—literally. At the core of a bold new plan to untangle the city’s notorious traffic snarls is a high-tech Traffic Management Centre (TMC), now under development by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
Strategically located at City Cabanas, the TMC will act as the nerve centre of Nairobi’s transport network, using artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time data to monitor, predict, and respond to traffic conditions across the city. From this single command hub, KURA aims to eliminate human guesswork and bring scientific precision to urban mobility.
The system will link the TMC to intelligent field equipment—including traffic signals, vehicle detectors, surveillance cameras, and electronic policing tools—via a high-speed communication network.
Powered by AI algorithms, the TMC will constantly process data from these sources, dynamically adjusting traffic lights at key intersections to reduce congestion, prevent collisions, and prioritise smoother flow.
In its first phase, the TMC will control 25 of Nairobi’s busiest intersections, such as Kenyatta Avenue/Moi Avenue and Mbagathi Way/Lang’ata Road. Traditional roundabouts will be removed and replaced with automated traffic signals that respond to actual traffic volumes rather than fixed schedules.
But the TMC isn’t just about speed. By replacing manual intervention with machine learning, the system is expected to increase road safety, cut carbon emissions, and improve commute times for thousands of city dwellers. Data collected over time will help forecast traffic patterns and guide future infrastructure decisions.
KURA Director General Eng. Silas Kinoti who said the project will be launched in the coming months, lauded the project as “a game changer that will redefine how Nairobi moves.”
He noted that by centralising control and analysis, the TMC will allow transport engineers to make smarter, faster decisions based on live data, easing gridlock across key corridors.
KURA’s long-term vision extends beyond traffic signals. In partnership with Korea’s KEXIM Bank, the TMC will eventually integrate with a new BRT Line 5, linking Thika Road and Mombasa Road via Outering. The full project will cost KSh 6 billion and is set for completion by early 2026.
