Mosiria makes pedestrians who skipped Nyayo footbridge collect litter

Head of Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Geoffrey Mosiria turned a routine road safety exercise into an impromptu clean-up session after he caught pedestrians crossing a busy road at the Nyayo Stadium Roundabout instead of using the footbridge provided for them.

Mosiria stopped several pedestrians he found taking the shortcut and asked them to sit as he handed them over to traffic officers at the scene.

He told the pedestrians that they could see the footbridge but had deliberately chosen to cross the road at a dangerous point.

At one point, he stopped a woman who was crossing while using her phone and asked her to hand it over as she picked up litter scattered along the roadside.

"You are talking on the phone while crossing the road. Come on, give me this, I will hold it for you. Pick up the litter with the others," he told her.

Another pedestrian pleaded with Mosiria after being stopped.

"For whom was that built? People? Why didn't you use it?" Mosiria asked.

The pedestrian apologised and promised not to repeat the offence.

"Join the others and pick up litter like them," Mosiria told her.

More pedestrians were stopped and directed to join the group collecting litter.

Mosiria at one point appeared ready to hand the pedestrians over to the relevant authorities for further action, telling them they would have to face court.

As some pleaded to be forgiven, he told them he was not God and could not decide whether to forgive them, saying that would be for a judge to determine.

He later changed tack and directed the pedestrians to collect litter instead.

"Come, come, come madam. Bring your bag here, put it down and start picking up litter. Why didn't you use the footbridge?" he told another pedestrian.

One man attempted to explain that he was in a hurry because he was going to hospital to see his wife, who had just given birth.

"Please, let me go before they close the hospital," he pleaded.

Mosiria dismissed the explanation, telling him the hospital would not close and that he would help him access it.

"The hospital cannot close. I will speak to them and you will get in. If you were knocked down by a car, would you reach the hospital you are rushing to? No. Stop making excuses and pick up this litter like the others," he said.

The pedestrians then joined the clean-up exercise, picking up litter and putting it together as Mosiria continued stopping others who attempted to cross the road instead of using the footbridge.

The exercise came as Mosiria sought to reinforce the message that pedestrians should use designated footbridges and crossings when navigating busy roads.

In a message accompanying a video of the exercise, Mosiria said the footbridge at the Nyayo Stadium Roundabout had been provided specifically for pedestrians, but some people continued risking their lives by taking shortcuts across the road.

He said his role involved educating residents, creating awareness, engaging citizens and responding to complaints affecting Nairobi residents.

Mosiria said the road safety intervention was meant to serve as a reminder to Nairobi residents and Kenyans generally that no destination was worth risking one's life by crossing a busy road at an unsafe point.

The intervention comes amid ongoing enforcement and road safety campaigns targeting pedestrians who fail to use designated crossing points.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has previously carried out enforcement operations against pedestrians found crossing roads at undesignated points, including those who bypass footbridges and pedestrian crossings.

The enforcement is part of broader efforts to encourage pedestrians to use designated crossing facilities and reduce the risk of crashes involving pedestrians.

NTSA and traffic police have also been urging pedestrians to follow road safety rules and avoid crossing busy roads at points where motorists may not have sufficient time to stop.

The emphasis on footbridges comes as authorities continue to address pedestrian safety on major roads, particularly in busy urban areas where large numbers of people cross roads daily.

Mosiria said the intervention at Nyayo was not simply about stopping pedestrians but also about engaging them and explaining why using the footbridge matters.

He said his work involves being present in different parts of Nairobi to educate residents, create awareness and respond to issues affecting them.

Some people ask why Mosiria is everywhere. This is my work. My work is to educate citizens, talk to them and create awareness. My work is to engage citizens and ensure that the people of Nairobi live well," he said.

Mosiria said road users should take personal responsibility for their safety, stressing that using a footbridge takes only a few extra moments but can prevent potentially serious consequences.