Sector: Civic Education | Public Awareness | Art & Design
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Tools: Graphic Design | Illustration | Visual Storytelling | Law Simplification
The Brief
In Nairobi, city by-laws exist to guide daily life; how we move, trade, gather, or even park but most residents have never read them. Complex, inaccessible legalese leaves citizens confused or completely unaware of the rules they’re meant to follow. CGA set out to flip that.
The Mission
Make Nairobi’s by-laws understandable, accessible, and even...cool.
We wanted to spark civic literacy in the streets and not with dry policy documents, but with visual storytelling that resonates with everyday Kenyans.
We wanted to spark civic literacy in the streets and not with dry policy documents, but with visual storytelling that resonates with everyday Kenyans.
What We Did
Researched existing Nairobi City County by-laws
Simplified legal jargon into short, snappy, and relatable text
Visualized key laws using bold, urban-style illustrations and poster design
Localized characters and scenarios—from mama mbogas to boda boda riders
The Project
Think Nairobi traffic is just chaos and vibes? Think again. Beneath the honking matatus, boda-boda zigzags, and pedestrian acrobatics lies a long list of by-laws that govern the madness. From that quick shortcut on the sidewalk to tossing out a maize cob mid-drive, the City County and NTSA have rules for it all, and yes, fines too.
Did you know that Nairobi has as many by-laws as the government has problems? Well, today we won’t delve into those, but instead, we’ll enlighten you about some minor offenses on the road that could land you in unexpected hot soup.
Whether you're on foot, two wheels, or behind the wheel of a guzzler, here are a few we've unearthed, tiny crimes with not-so-tiny consequences.
We’re not here to scare you, just to prepare you because when trouble comes knocking and a corrupt official tries to squeeze you for a bribe, knowledge becomes your shield. Most of the time, the actual fine is way less than what you’d cough up to “tea” someone. And more importantly? You get to keep your conscience clean by simply following the rules.