Infrastructure
Kenya Secures Sh20bn for Nairobi Rail Upgrade
The commuter line aims to enhance the city’s transportation system.
Kenya has signed a Sh20 billion (€128m) loan agreement with the French government to fund the upgrade and modernization of the Nairobi Commuter Rail.
According to the deal signed by Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo, the funds will be utilised for the upgrading of the railway to end traffic jams in the city.
“In a major step towards sustainable urban development, a Euro 128 million Loan Agreement for Nairobi’s Commuter Line was signed,” the Treasury said in a statement on Friday.
The deal was inked at the end of the 5-day United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) summit, which took place in Nairobi from February 26 to March 1.
The funding will be spent on the upgrade of signalling, communication systems, train operating infrastructure, and automated level crossings.
Additionally, the Kenya Railways will use the money to install an automatic fare collection system with fibre optic backbone, civil works and Information, Communication and technology equipment.
Upgrading the Nairobi Commuter Rail Line 6 fits with the country’s plan for sustainable urban development, which seeks to improve transport services in the Nairobi area.
The project seeks to enhance the city’s transportation system by integrating it with an expanded central railway station.
The railway line will feature bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and stations, along with a new matatu terminus to facilitate smoother entry and exit from the city.
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It will seamlessly integrate with five proposed BRT corridors across five counties for use by buses, including Nyati, Chui, Ndovu, Simba, and Kifaru.
The Ndovu line will cover Limuru-Kangemi, CBD-Imara Daima-JKIA to Athi River, and Kitengela. Simba covers Rongai-Bomas-CBD-Ruiru-Thika and Kenol while the Chui line runs from Tala to Njiru-Dandora-CBD-Showground and Ngong.
Kifaru covers Kayole-Mama Lucy-Donholm-CBD-T/Mall-Bomas-Karen-Dagoreti and Kikuyu. Apart from the Outer Ring Road corridor design from Imara to Balozi Estate, Nyati will be remodelled to cover Kiambu-Balozi and Imara Daima.
The planned implementation of the Nairobi BRT system has been in the works for nearly a decade but has been hindered by a lack of funds.
(Exchange rate: 1 Euro = Sh157)
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