Safe Steps to School

Project theme: Sustainable, Inclusive and Active Mobility (SIAM) solutions; Speed reduction

BY mARY ABUNGU

Safe Steps to School aims to improve child safety around high-traffic school zones in Nairobi by reducing vehicle speeds and promoting inclusive walking and cycling infrastructure. The project will identify crash trends and infrastructure gaps, followed by a road safety inspection at a high-risk school.

Immediate, low-cost interventions such as signage and road markings will be implemented, with high-cost recommendations shared with authorities. Focused on children aged 6–14, the project will deliver safer crossings, enhanced visibility, and greater road safety awareness, while advocating for city-wide school zone safety reforms and inclusive, non-motorised transport planning.

ABOUT THE PROJECT LEAD

mARY ABUNGU

Mary Abungu was born in Nairobi, Kenya and is a passionate Transportation Engineer and Road Safety Specialist with a Master of Science in Transport Engineering, Planning, and Management from Newcastle University, in the UK.

She specialises in sustainable mobility, road safety, and transport planning and is the founder of SUMO Africa, an NGO committed to enhancing sustainable transportation solutions. Additionally, she is actively involved in empowering women and youth through education and skills development and ensuring inclusive and equitable access to opportunities in the transport sector.

ABOUT THE LEAD ORGANISATION

ELGIA

ELGIA is a Continental Organisation working to strengthen constitutional democracy and good governance in Africa. Their key activities include strengthening governance institutions through technical assistance, capacity building, law reforms, advocacy, research, and the implementation of improvement projects, particularly in underserved communities. They focus on promoting equitable access to opportunities, empowering marginalised groups, and fostering transparent, accountable systems.