Nairobi is moving ahead with an ambitious smart street lighting programme that will modernise the city’s lighting infrastructure and create new opportunities for the lighting and smart-city technology sectors. The Nairobi Smart Street Lighting Project is being overseen by the PPP Department within the National Treasury, with the feasibility study completed in October 2024 and the final report expected to proceed for approval.
The project is expected to cover approximately 100,000 street lighting assets across Nairobi. The planned upgrade will combine new energy-efficient LED fixtures with the retrofitting of existing streetlights, supported by a Common Management System using ultra-narrowband technology. This connected approach will enable centralised monitoring and management of the city’s lighting network while supporting improved energy efficiency and more effective infrastructure management.
The project will be delivered under a Build-Transfer-Operate model, with a private developer responsible for construction, operation and maintenance over a 10-year period. The procurement process will be undertaken through competitive bidding, creating a significant potential opportunity for lighting manufacturers, technology providers, system integrators and infrastructure companies with expertise in LED and connected lighting solutions.
Nairobi’s smart lighting plans are also developing alongside a wider digital transformation of the city’s transport infrastructure. The initiative will introduce digital technologies for automated traffic-light management, real-time monitoring and improved coordination of the city’s road network.
Together, these initiatives highlight the growing role of connected LED lighting and smart infrastructure in Africa’s urban development. With a large-scale lighting network, centralised controls and digital connectivity at the centre of the programme, Nairobi has the potential to become an important reference market for smart outdoor lighting, intelligent controls and energy-efficient urban infrastructure across the region.