The completion of the long-awaited Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot line along the Thika Superhighway has been postponed until next year due to funding issues.
The project, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the city, began on August 4, 2020, with an initial contract duration of 18 months. However, work halted when the contractor ceased operations because of financial constraints.
In the fiscal year 2022–23, the project received an allocation of Sh1.2 billion, followed by Sh1.1 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, and Sh1 billion for the current financial year from the National Treasury.
The revised timeline now extends the contract to 55 months, with a new completion date set for March 15, 2025. The project will feature 10 BRT stations, 100 buses, and dedicated bus lanes designed for efficient passenger transport, aiming to accommodate 15,000 passengers per hour in each direction.
According to Francis Gitau, the director general of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, construction has resumed. “We expect the pilot phase to commence in January next year,” Gitau stated.
The BRT project includes modifications to 10 existing footbridges, dedicated bus platforms, and both motorized and non-motorized lanes. It also involves the design of depots in Kasarani and Ruiru, as well as enhancements to traffic signals and infrastructure for smooth traffic flow.
Established on February 9, 2017, by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA) oversees this initiative, which aims to create a sustainable public transport system across the five counties of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area: Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Murang’a, together housing 10.4 million residents, about one-fifth of Kenya’s population.
In November 2019, the government initiated the BRT tender, intending to improve the Thika Superhighway to accommodate the project. The Chinese firm Stecol Corporation was awarded a Sh5.6 billion contract to construct special lanes for high-capacity buses.
The BRT system aims to provide fast, reliable, and affordable transport, thereby decongesting the Central Business District and reducing travel times and air pollution. The project was officially awarded on February 12, 2020, and will be executed in two phases.
Traffic congestion in the Nairobi metropolis is estimated to cost the country Sh2 billion annually, and the transport sector is a significant contributor to air pollution, which results in over 5,400 premature deaths each year. The transport sector accounts for 20% of Kenya’s CO2 emissions.
Residents in Nairobi and other cities primarily rely on public transport, which constitutes 41% of trips, while walking accounts for 40%. Only 13% of journeys are made by personal vehicles in Nairobi.
To address these issues, former Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia designated transport corridors in the city on February 26, 2019. The BRT system will include several lines, each designed to improve transport efficiency.
Once completed, the BRT system is expected to deploy up to 950 high-capacity electric buses equipped with an intelligent transport system and facilities to accommodate children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. Fares will be collected through a cashless payment system at ticket machines located at the platforms.
Funding Delays Push Nairobi’s Bus Rapid Transit Project to 2025
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