City School Transport System and its Implications on Family Costs: A Case of Nairobi City

Abstract

School transport costs in Nairobi represent a significant and growing burden on households, yet the implications of these costs remain underexplored in urban planning literature. This study examines the implications of the costs of the school transport system in Nairobi City County. Using a mixed-methods longitudinal design over the 2010-2025 period, the research combined household surveys (n=96), school surveys (n=19), stakeholder interviews, and secondary data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The findings revealed that school transport constitutes a significant household expenditure, particularly for low-income families, influencing school choice, reducing educational affordability and reinforcing spatial inequalities through longer commuting distances and higher travel costs. weighted-average monthly transport expenditure rose by 59% nominally from KES 3,200 to KES 5,100 per child between 2010 and 2025, with real costs declining by 33% after inflation. The study further established that inadequate integration of school transport into land-use planning and institutional fragmentation exacerbates persistent accessibility challenges. The findings support the Generalised Cost Theory by demonstrating that household travel decisions are shaped by the combined effects of monetary and non-monetary transport costs. The study concludes that school transport has significant cost implications. It recommends integrating school transport into urban planning through equitable school zoning, improved public transport, and the provision of safe, continuous Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) infrastructure to enhance equitable access to education.