Mombasa has been selected among cities set to benefit from a new $350 million (about sh.45 billion) global road safety and cycling initiative announced by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The programme, unveiled on April 28 at CityLab 2026, will support more than 30 cities across 13 countries, including Kenya, in efforts to reduce traffic deaths and build safer, more inclusive urban transport systems.
Both Mombasa and Nairobi are listed among the African cities targeted in the next phase of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, which aims to save one million lives over the next five years.
“Road crashes don’t receive enough attention, even though they take a staggering toll on human life and health, and so many of the injuries and deaths are preventable,” said Michael R. Bloomberg while announcing the investment.
The new funding will scale up proven interventions, including improved road design, stronger enforcement of traffic laws, and expanded use of data to identify high-risk areas.
For Mombasa, the programme is expected to reinforce ongoing efforts to address road safety challenges, particularly among pedestrians, boda boda riders and cyclists who account for the majority of casualties.
Key focus areas include:
• Reducing dangerous speeding, a leading cause of crashes
• Expanding safe cycling infrastructure and connected bike lanes
• Strengthening traffic enforcement and policy implementation
• Improving public transport safety
The initiative will also examine emerging risks such as distracted driving and support governments in adopting safer mobility systems.
Mombasa has in recent years been part of global road safety interventions backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, including programmes aimed at redesigning dangerous intersections, improving crash data systems and enhancing compliance with helmet and seatbelt laws.
The latest investment is expected to accelerate these efforts while introducing new support for cycling infrastructure under a parallel global initiative.
Meanwhile, the Mombasa County government has announced that it will continue working with Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety to prevent traffic deaths and injuries.
“This investment will provide critical resources to strengthen our ongoing efforts to make streets safer and prevent traffic deaths in Mombasa city,” said Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir.
“We’re implementing proven strategies to protect our residents and build a more sustainable city through this collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies to ensure every Mombasa resident is safe on our streets,” he added.
The new commitment brings total funding by Bloomberg Philanthropies for road safety to $865 million since 2007.
According to the World Health Organization, more than one million people die each year in road traffic crashes globally, with tens of millions more injured.
Through partnerships with governments and local agencies, the initiative has helped pass over 190 safety policies worldwide, redesigned thousands of dangerous intersections and trained tens of thousands of traffic officers.
For Mombasa, inclusion in the expanded programme signals continued international backing in tackling road crashes, which remain a major public health and urban mobility challenge.
