Abstract:
Little consideration has been given to the issues of women in the urban environment.
With the lack of provision of women friendly streets and street elements, poorly lit
and unsafe streets, Nairobi Central Business District’s (C.B.D) streets disregard
women’s needs. The research sought to establish the Urban Design factors that
influence women’s choice of route of movement in Nairobi C.B.D. The research was
designed as a survey, using observation and interview methods. The study found that
women’s choice of route of movement is a product of mix of land uses, the social
environment on the street, visibility of buildings along a route and transparency of
spaces from the street. To a lesser degree, openness of the street, length of route and
a street’s complexity, are important variables determining choice of route of
movement. In order to integrate women in the streets, it is desirable to incorporate
building uses that generate street activity, improve visual connectedness between the
street and the building as well as remedy areas where visibility is impaired.
