Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, is one of the world's most congested cities, with over 60% of its two million registered vehicles using the city's roads.
According to Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Director General Silas Kinoti, intelligent infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
Speaking in April 2022, Kinoti noted that AI will be key to helping the authority with data that identifies patterns not seen without AI, allowing for continuous learning and updating of traffic patterns.
He added that cameras, signals, and sensors will be installed at all junctions to identify areas with high traffic and adjust traffic light control accordingly.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier called for the redesign and signalising of 25 new intersections, the setting up of 100 new road junctions, and the construction of a new traffic management control centre in November 2020.
The control centre will utilise traffic cameras and sensors to provide a synchronised signal at 100 new junctions, in addition to the existing traffic lights.
According to a report by the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, vehicles stuck in traffic potentially cost Kenya almost $1 billion a year in lost productivity.
