Nairobi faced a near standstill on Monday as police erected barricades across major roads leading into the Central Business District (CBD) ahead of the Saba Saba protests.
This security measure caused massive traffic jams, leaving many commuters stranded and disrupting daily activities.
However, Nairobi-based developers quickly responded by launching the Live Barricades App, a crowdsourced digital platform providing real-time updates on barricade locations to help residents navigate the city.
Real-time updates help commuters navigate Nairobi’s roadblocks
The Live Barricades App is accessible via nairobi-cbd-barricades. vercel. The app offers an interactive map showing where police have blocked roads or placed obstacles.
Major routes such as Thika Superhighway, Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, and Jogoo Road are marked with icons indicating different barricades, from metal fences to police vehicles.
Users can zoom in on specific junctions and toggle views to plan alternative routes effectively.
What sets this platform apart is its collaborative nature. Commuters and riders can report new barricades as they encounter them, allowing the app to update in real time.
This crowdsourced approach ensures that the map reflects the latest situation, helping people avoid bottlenecks and find accessible paths, especially for urgent trips to hospitals, offices, or deliveries.
Digital innovation responds swiftly to urban challenges
The launch of the Live Barricades App highlights civic technology’s power to address immediate urban challenges.
Unlike government transport apps, which may take time to develop and deploy, this platform was created almost overnight in direct response to the crisis.
It builds on Nairobi’s history of digital innovation, such as the Digital Matatus project, but is distinguished by its rapid deployment and community-driven updates.
During the Saba Saba day lockdown, police blocked all roads leading to the CBD, including Ngong Road, Valley Road, State House Road, Uhuru Highway, and others, leaving many commuters with no choice but to walk long distances or remain stranded.
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina noted, “Roads are blocked everywhere; we’re trying to get to court,” illustrating the widespread disruption caused by the barricades.
The app has proven invaluable for Nairobi residents, helping them navigate a city under tight security restrictions. As one user shared, the platform “has saved me hours of waiting in traffic and helped me find routes I didn’t know existed.”
This grassroots tech solution demonstrates how digital tools can empower citizens to overcome obstacles during times of crisis.
The police presence remained strong throughout the day, with at least 25 barricades reported across Nairobi.
The app’s live updates complemented on-the-ground reporting, such as coverage by NTV Kenya, which confirmed the ongoing roadblocks and the difficulties faced by motorists trying to access the CBD.
In a city where traffic congestion is a daily challenge, the Live Barricades App provided a much-needed lifeline for commuters caught in the unexpected lockdown.
Its success underscores the importance of community-driven digital solutions in urban mobility and crisis management.