The Kenya Urban Roads Authority(KURA) is set to commission a new traffic management system that is aimed at mitigating the traffic crisis experienced on various routes in the city.

The system dubbed Nairobi Intelligent Transport System is designed to use intelligent cameras, variable timing traffic lights and a control centre to observe and control traffic, thereby reducing the burden on traffic police officers.

NITS, which costs approximately Kshs6.5 billion, will be in use beginning August this year and is already being implemented to man traffic on some of the city intersections such as City mortuary roundabout, Kibera Junction around Uchumi, Yaya Centre, Dennis Pritt – Lenana road junction,  Loitok-tok Road junction, Kileleshwa Police Station, River-Side junction towards Arboretum and Ngong road junction then Westlands area.

At the core of the ITS is a traffic management center located in KURA office in Barabara Plaza mandated to monitor traffic, discern the general traffic conditions and obtain traffic flow data in real-time. Using intelligent algorithms, the smart traffic lights system allows longer traffic flow from roads with the most traffic. It also allocates less time where there are fewer vehicles, thus minimizing unnecessary waiting time.

“KURA has successfully implemented an Intelligent Transport Systems pilot project in 10 junctions along Nairobi’s Western Ring Road and Ngong Road which has generally reduced snarl-ups,” KURA Director-General John Cheboi stated.

This however will not render traffic police officers useless as they are mandated to sit in the management centre's control room monitoring traffic to mitigate any snarl-ups experienced on the roads.

Based on traffic flow, the system predicts congestion based on the analysis of historical and real-time traffic data,  which aids traffic officers to command and dispatch traffic signal control and traffic guidance.

Thereafter the system directs traffic lights on intervals of right of way, which clears up heavy traffic allowing smooth movement of motorists.

The first phase of the project has proved successful, and KURA has contracted Cheil engineering company, a Korean Consortium to provide guidance during bid evaluation, negotiation, supervision of engineering design, and construction of traffic Management system at a cost of Kshs 548 million. The second phase of the project will be designated to improve junction management at 81 intersections around the city.