Central Bank of Kenya Steals Public Space........

What justification does the Central Bank have for blocking nearly 100 metres of the pavement at its headquarters, off Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road? asks E. Otieno. And as if that is not bad enough, mean-looking policemen wielding AK-47 rifles have been deployed to ensure no one approaches it. “Is it because of the new paving blocks or sheer contempt for taxpayers? Someone should move the flowerpots and give pedestrians more space.”


The Central Bank, responding to E. Otieno’s criticism about blocking pavements, says it’s about security.

“The Central Bank’s responsibilities, include safeguarding public money. We’ve entered into agreements with councils to secure the pavements at our buildings countrywide. Being a strategic national institution serving banks and the public, this is vital. The stringent security measures are not meant to scare away people,” says the communications office.


The Central Bank’s defence of its blocking of pavements at its headquarters building in Nairobi as a means to enhance security, is not entirely true, says Martin Tairo Maseghe.

He adds: “As architects, we provide for designs that ensure security and leave public spaces (pavements and walkways) to the public. If they feel the space is too limited for their security requirements, they should buy land elsewhere and put up a building to their standards.”