Road Conditions and Performance of Road Safety along Outer Ring Road in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Road safety remains a pressing challenge for Kenya’s urban transport system, especially in Nairobi, where increased vehicle use and inadequate infrastructure have deteriorated road safety conditions. Grounded in Systems Theory, this study investigated the influence of road conditions on the performance of road safety along Outer Ring Road in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study adopted a convergent parallel research design to collect both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously, analyzed independently and integrated for comprehensive insights. The target population comprised 2,190 Matatu drivers drawn from seven Matatu associations, four NTSA officials, and ten KURA representatives. A sample of 338 Matatu drivers was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques, while 14 key informants were purposively chosen, yielding a total sample size of 352 participants. Structured questionnaires and interview guides were used for data collection. A pilot study was conducted on Jogoo Road to test validity and reliability of the tools. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed and reported verbatim. A response rate of 90% (n=303) was achieved. The research tools demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients of 0.783 for road conditions and 0.776 for performance of road safety. Findings indicated that poor road conditions—including surface quality, signage, drainage, and lane design—significantly undermine performance of road safety along Outering Road (mean = 3.83; SD = 0.524). Key informants affirmed that deteriorated road environments elevate accident risks. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong, positive, and significant relationship between road conditions and performance of road safety (r = 0.707; p = 0.000). Regression analysis confirmed road conditions as a statistically significant predictor of performance of road safety (Beta = 0.073; p = 0.000). The study concluded that poor road conditions significantly influence the performance of road safety along Outer Ring Road. The findings underscore the urgent need for urban transport agencies to invest in road maintenance, improve signage and drainage, and upgrade lane designs to enhance road safety outcomes.