A city that keeps fit, stays healthy

People walking along Ring Road in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. Photo/SALATON NJAU 

By EVELYN SITUMA, esituma@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Many people, young and old, are keeping fit in their neighbourhoods where there are pavements for pedestrians and cyclists.

Every Saturday evening, Pauline Wangari and her friend Lucy drive off to Jaffrey’s Sports Club on James Gichuru Road for their fitness routine.

“We drive to Jaffrey’s on weekends in the late afternoon and do several laps around the pitch sometimes walking briskly, other times jogging,” says Pauline. The two have kept this for two months although Pauline says for her it has to be a mix of exercise routines.

“I get bored fast so I do different things to remain motivated,” she explains. Last year, Pauline started walking and jogging around her neighbourhood in Kilimani, a habit which she has kept todate. She also goes swimming, to the gym and does yoga to keep it interesting.

Ever since the link roads on Ring Road and Kileleshwa were commissioned, Pauline says walking on the pathways is sheer joy. She loves the relaxation she gets from walking without the fear of falling in an open manhole or twisting her ankle on uneven surfaces.

“I walk along the newly opened Kilimani Ring Road to the roundabaout that connects it to Kileleshwa, sometimes I do Lenana upto Dennis Pritt Road or Dennis Pritt all the way to James Gichuru Road. This is a form of fitness I enjoy as I can listen to my music and clear my head without worrying about injury or accident from tyhe passing cars,” she says.

Pauline is not alone. Phillip Horrobin, a 93-year-old resident of Lavington also enjoys walking on these new roads around his home. “At my age, I see no reason in living unless I am healthy and fit,” he says as he walks up the new Ring Road with his walking stick.

He walks daily for just under an hour. But also adds that he maintains a fitness lifestyle at home by working on his garden. In addition, Phillip plays golf once a week.

Phillip says he enjoys walking on the new roads especially because they are clean and the demarcations conducive for those who want to exercise.

 

This is the model UNEP is currently backing in its road sharing campaign. According the environment agency of the UN, construction of roads suitable for motorised transport, walking, cycling and skating is necessary and ought to be encouraged.

Ring Road in Nairobi constructed in partnership with the government of Japan is the first such infrastructure. The Aga Khan Foundation also had plans of reconstructing the 5th Avenue on Limuru Road to accommodate handcarts, pedestrians, cyclists and cars. Its however not clear whether or not the project is still on course.

Who’s- who

Walking, cycling and jogging is quickly becoming a favoured fitness routine for young and old Kenyans - especially those living in the city. 

Apart from the motivation to exercise which comes with good infrastructure, individuals are also spending less to keep fit.

Most people who walk or jog say they only have to pay for their sporting gear while saving on money that would have otherwise been spent on gym subscriptions which they, more often than not, do not utilise. Another advantage is the social networking side of this kind of exercise.

Fitness enthusiasts, who meet often on these roads eventually become familiar with each other, get a chance to chat thereby developing social or business relationships