Badi, NMS were successful in improving dirty, disorganised Nairobi

Although the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) headed by Lt. General Mohamed Badi met strong resistance and criticism, the entity established to bring order and streamline the city has made some strides.

On health and sanitation, NMS attempted to improve lives by decentralising healthcare and increasing water, especially in informal settlements.

Unless faced with complicated conditions requiring specialized treatment, the sick from slums do not need to flock to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

Instead, they can access medication at Muthua, Ushirika, Soweto-Kayole, Gatina, Gichagi, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Riruta-Satellite, Sinai, Lunga Lunga, Kibra, New Mathare-Kiamaiko, Tassia kwa Ndege, Mwiki, Zimmerman, Pumwani-Majengo, Gumba and Ngundu-Kamulu health facilities.

These facilities have in turn eased pressure on KNH, Mama Lucy Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital and Mutuini Hospital.

To improve level of sanitation in informal settlements, free water provision has been prioritized. There are more than 190 boreholes supplying more than 40 million litres of water.

The metropolis has been renovating and constructing houses in colonial-era Bahati, Maringo, Jericho, Lumumba, Bondeni, Ziwani Embakasi, California, Kariobangi North and Woodley estates.

Phase one of the project covered Uhuru estate, New Ngara, Old Ngara, Suna Road, Pangani, Ngong Phase I and Ngong Phase II.

In a bid to decongest the CBD, six termini where city-bound matatus will drop and pick passengers, are in the final stages of completion. They include Green Park, Fig Tree, Nyayo Stadium, Muthurwa, Desai and Park Road.

Further, many roads within and outside town have been re-carpeted and Walking in some parts of CBD is a leisurely exercise for some pedestrians thanks to paved walkways laid under the non-motorized transport project.