Leading The Change: Cyprine Odada And The Impact Of Critical Mass Nairobi

Interview | Perspectives | Nairobi, Kenya

Just a few years ago, in the midst of the bustling chaos of the ever growing Kenyan Capital, you might have been able to spot a few brave cyclists, making their way through the intermingling of cars, Matatus (shared minibus common throughout Kenya), food stalls and pedestrians. However, present day Nairobi seems like a different city and cyclists multiply by the day, taking more and more space on the metropolitan streets.

At the forefront of this transformation are local cycling advocacy groups and activists who have been working tirelessly to promote cycling. One of them is Cyprine Odada, urban planner and head of Critical Mass Nairobi, who the Urban Cycling Institute had the pleasure to interview. She is now leading a cycling transformation in one of the largest cities in Africa. Her incredible work deserves the spotlight, and can teach cities throughout the world about bottom-up approaches to successfully promoting cycling.

Photo courtesy of Cyprine Odada

Critical Mass Nairobi, a space for everyone

When Cyprine took over the direction of critical mass Nairobi in 2016, the organization was down to a few members and was not well known, “When I started riding with critical mass, I felt like I had found my family, my community, and I wanted to hold on to that”, Cyprine tells the Urban Cycling Institute, adding,“I did not want to lose this wonderful group, and seeing such a few people coming to our rides, which sometimes were even canceled, pushed me to ask the founder to help him out; I had a vision: I wanted Critical Mass to grow, to impact the city and push for policies and infrastructure. After I took a leading role, I found myself doing all kinds of work, from marketing, to social media engagement, to education. It was a lot, but with the help of a fantastic team we have been able to bring hundreds of people to Critical Mass and start incredible projects”.

Photo courtesy of Cyprine Odada.

The phenomenon of Critical Masses has boomed since 1992, when the first was held in San Francisco, and nowadays thousands of cities around the world participate in the initiative. But Critical Mass is not simply a monthly gathering of cycling enthusiasts looking to spend some time together, it is a bold statement against car-centricity. By taking up space on the road in large numbers, cyclists become visible, loud, playful, they are at the center of attention, they represent an alternative for those sitting in a car, waiting for the cheering mass to cycle by (Rigal, 2022). In addition, Critical Masses create networks of activism, paving the way for an alternative and collective re-imagination of the road.

Photo courtesy of Cyprine Odada.

“At Critical Mass Nairobi, we ride 28-30 kilometers, although the speed is moderate, it can be difficult to keep up for kids”, points out Cyprine, “and I always found that a pity, which is why I decided to create Nairobi’s version of Kidical Mass, Toto Mass”. Kidical Mass is the child-friendly version of Critical Mass, it is shorter, easier and slower, and it has gained enormous popularity all over the world since the first one was held in Eugene, Oregon, in 2008. Cyprine Odada recognized the importance of including the youngest inhabitants of the city in cycling activism: “Opening public spaces to children is so important, but people need to see children in these public spaces to realize it. Toto Mass is organized for parents and their children, and every time more and more people join us. We have kids with tricycles, moving slowly but joyfully, and I see that this impacts car riders much more! To see young kids taking space on the road, smiling and being so brave, even the car drivers get joyful by seeing them and respect them by seeing them as road users”.

Women are another group that is often under-represented among cyclists around the world, due to feelings of unsafety and socio-cultural concerns. Cyprine, who is never short of ideas, has been dedicating herself to creating a safe space for women within the cycling community: