Empowering Mobility in Kenya: The Journey So Far

Kenya is home to around 400,000 citizens with mobility impairments, many of whom navigate uneven roads, limited public transport, and inaccessible infrastructure. At GDI Hub, we believe improving mobility is not only a matter of access - it’s a matter of equity, independence, and opportunity.

On this project, with the Frontier Tech Hub, our mission is to help address these challenges through a pilot project called Smart Mobility, which aims to introduce a detachable electric “third wheel” for wheelchairs. After months of planning, partnerships, in February, we conducted on-the-ground testing in Nairobi an essential step toward understanding real-world viability and impact.
When this idea was first conceptualized by FCDO Pioneers Anne MacKinnon and Dr. Jacqueline Owigo, the vision was clear: can a product that has been successful in India and Colombia work for Nairobi and can we design a product that directly responds to the country specific mobility needs of people with disabilities in Nairobi?

Over the past year, we’ve built a consortium of innovators, including MATT from Colombia, NeoMotion from India, EbikesAfrica, TAI (The Accessibility Institute) and Kounkuey Design Initiative from Kenya. Each partner has contributed insights from their respective markets and communities. This global exchange of ideas, supported by the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and the AT2030 programme, positioned us to launch practical trials in Kenya.

In earlier collaborative workshops, four thematic pillars emerged as crucial to our success:

• Innovation & Development of Assistive Technology – Robust design for rough terrain.
• Accessibility & Affordability – New financing models like rent-to-buy or linking product ownership to income-generating opportunities.
• User Needs & Experiences – Customizable, modular attachments that could fit a variety of wheelchairs.
• Collaboration & Co-design – Involving local groups, NGOs, and government bodies to ensure relevance and scalability.
  
  These pillars have guided our approach as we moved into live testing, where theoretical discussions met practical realities.

This live testing stage was held with two electric third-wheel prototypes piloted in Nairobi for the first time: “Matt Movilidad thirdwheel,” developed in Colombia, and “Neo Motion NeoBolt and Neo Fly,” designed in India. Both solutions have proven effective in their home countries but had never been tried in Kenya’s unique urban landscape. The product testing took place across 3 informal settlements, Korogocho, Kayole and Kibera, aiming to test the devices in the most difficult terrain of the city. In these vibrant welcoming communities, we worked with local partner Kounkuey Design Initiative to give local wheelchair users the chance to try out these attachments, and initial feedback was enthusiastic. From maneuverability on uneven pavement to usability, each design showed promise yet also revealed areas for improvement. Following the test drives of the devices in Nairobi, focus group sessions were held where participants were given the opportunity to have their direct say on what needs to be changed. The feedback from these sessions will be shared and used by involved innovators to make sure any future devices developed for Kenya or similar locations consider this extremely valuable input.

According to Anne McKinnon, Disability & Assistive Technology Adviser at FCDO and one of the pioneers on this pilot project team;

Daniel Hajas from the Global Disability Innovation Hub mentioned that,

As both Anne McKinnon and Daniel Hajas, attest to, the pilot has highlighted that these devices need not only improve physical inclusivity but also be financially accessible to have a real impact. According to a recent study in the Pan African medical Journal, only 1% of people with disabilities in Kenya are employed.1 This statistic underlines the barriers to employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Kenya. From our earlier innovator workshops affordability led to suggestions of rent to buy models, but on meeting the well-educated and ambitious wheelchair users of these communities it became a priority. From the in-person device trials we have seen the changes these devices could make not only to a person’s physical mobility but also in improving their economic situation. Beyond this, participants stressed that improving both these aspects of their lives could lead to improvements in other areas from family lives, relationships, socializing, religious participation, advocacy and youth work, the possibility and scope for how participants could see themselves making the most of these devices was endless. It was clear that these devices had the power to allow people live their lives the way they wanted and should be able to.

As this pilot comes to a close, we are reflecting on the feedback from wheelchair users in Nairobi and holding discussion sessions with our innovators. We aim to address the following areas and explore what needs to happen to make these devices available to wheelchair users in Nairobi.

Areas being explored:

Employment Models: How can this device be more than just a piece of AT but a driver for economic opportunity. Can it be paired with employment opportunities and offered through an affordably finance model

Community Engagement: Our work with Kounkuey Design Initiative allowed us to partner with communities and learn from them. How can we ensure a model for these devices continues to consider and work with the communities?

Risk Management & Safety: To ensure these devices are introduce into Kenya in the safest way, ensuring standards and protocols which will benefit all road users

Importing & Localising Mobility Solutions: How can these devices be altered to fit the Kenyan context based on trial feedback and is there a possibility of local manufacturer or assembly?

We look forward to building a collaborative and actionable model to make these devices a success in Kenya! If you would like to learn more don’t hesitate to get in touch.