Moving from Vision to Reality – The GoDown’s Her City Her Streets Project

Samverka” - A Swedish term meaning to collaborate or cooperate. Somewhat akin to our Kiswahili ‘harambee’ or ‘Pamoja’. Even the most daunting initiative becomes manageable when heads and hands come together in cooperation. It is an acknowledgement that we, together, create an ecosystem in which real, lasting change can be made. ?

?Samverka was the spirit in which a diverse group of government officials, policy makers, members of the diplomatic corps and urbanists gathered at a cocktail event held by The GoDown and in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden last Thursday.?

Graciously hosted by the Ambassador of Sweden to Kenya, H.E Caroline Vicini, the objective of the occasion was to hear from The GoDown and our partners regarding the Her City Her Streets Project which seeks to transform Dunga and Dundori Roads, the streets abutting our property in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. The project, part of our wider GoDown Transformation, aims to redevelop the streets into a vibrant and inclusive public space in which commercial activity, transport and mobility, and cultural activity can take place together. ?

The ambitious and exciting project, which could?effectively serve as an example for urban design in other parts of the city, the country and the region, is a result of a partnership between The GoDown and UN Habitat’s Her City Project. The partnership has seen The GoDown using the Her City Toolbox to facilitate the inclusion of the voices of girls and young women in the redesign of the streets since July 2021. The project has involved a wide range of stakeholders in gathering data, envisioning what the streets could be, the generation of conceptual?designs of the inclusive, multi-use streets,?and development of 3D models of the same. ?

This occasion served as a launch of the 3D model of the redesigned streets around the new GoDown, and gave the attendees a more tangible feel of the character of multi-use streets as proposed by the young women. ?

?H.E. Vicini opened her residence to a group of high-level decision makers including representatives from the Nairobi County, Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority, the diplomatic corps, the Architectural Association of Kenya, Placemaking Network, designers, urban planners and, importantly, representatives of the group of young women engaged in the project. ?

(Her City Her Streets' Caroline Gitonga and Kizza-Marie Oganga with H.E. Vicini; Rehema Kabare presenting)

The group heard from?the young women, through a representative, regarding their experience participating in the project, and UN Habitat regarding the use of the Her City toolkit around the globe.

One of our key architectural partners, PLANNING Systems Services, offered detailed insights of the utility of the redesigned streets which featured space for pedestrians, non-motorized transport, commercial activity and leisure, prominently featuring the ideas and proposals of the young project participants. ?

(Henry Musangi of PLANNING Systems Services)

The Swedish ambassador closed the evening by joining The GoDown with?a call to action, appealing to the leadership of the bodies and organizations present to come together and make the vision and ready plans for the redesigned streets a reality. ?

In her closing remarks, The GoDown’s Executive Director, Joy Mboya, emphasized the importance of building sustainable cities through participatory approaches to urban design, and by making tangible investments to strengthen the?social and cultural confidence of Nairobi residents through initiatives such as The GoDown Transformation and other investments in cultural infrastructure.

?Author: Nyambura Muiruri

Email: [email protected]