The Cabinet on Tuesday, December 17, approved the Ksh43.4 billion construction of the Clean Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System. The government says the move will enhance public transport reliability and infrastructure efficiency, ensuring predictable fares during both low and peak hours.
The approval comes barely a week after Nairobi County announced the approval of a €320 million (about Ksh43.4 billion in the current exchange rate) financing package for the project.
According to a Cabinet dispatch, the construction of the line will connect Ngong Town and Tala with construction set to begin next year.
The Cabinet notes that the first phase covers 12.4km from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to Dandora, with future extensions planned for Ngong Town and Tala.
President William Ruto engages with Cabinet Secretaries at State House Nairobi on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
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“By 2035, Core Line 3 is projected to transport 357,000 passengers daily using electric buses,” states a Cabinet dispatch.
According to the government, the system will feature cashless fare collection, real-time passenger information, GPS-based vehicle tracking, and park-and-ride facilities. This system will be managed by the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA).
Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson last week announced the Clean Core Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 3 funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union (EU).
“This funding represents a significant boost to Nairobi’s transportation infrastructure. Our partners—the EIB, AFD, and EU—have approved €320 million in financing for the Clean Core BRT Line 3. This is a historic moment for our city,” he stated.
Preliminary designs and feasibility studies for the BRT project have already been completed, with construction expected to commence in early 2025.
A similar project along the busy Thika Super Highway failed after facing numerous challenges. This year, contractors abandoned the project, leaving incomplete structures.
By December last year, the BRT projects valued at Ksh3.09 billion had stalled due to delayed government payments.
Contractors had completed work worth Ksh2.9 billion but received only Ksh1 billion, leading to project suspensions and increased costs from interest on overdue payments.
President William Ruto(left) and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following on the proceedings during the First Anniversary of the eCitizen Directorate, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
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