The completion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot line along Nairobi’s Thika Superhighway, a project poised to significantly alleviate the city’s chronic traffic congestion, has been delayed once again. Initially launched on August 4, 2020, with an expected contract period of 18 months, the project’s timeline has now been extended to March 15, 2025. This delay is largely attributed to funding shortfalls that caused the contractor to temporarily halt work. However, with new financial allocations, work has resumed, and there is renewed hope that the project will reach fruition within the revised timeline.
Financial Constraints and Revised Timeline
The Nairobi BRT project, which has been lauded as a potential game-changer for the city’s public transportation system, encountered severe financial difficulties that stalled progress. In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the project was allocated Ksh 1.2 billion. However, this was not sufficient to keep the project on track. The following fiscal year (2023-2024) saw an allocation of Ksh 1.1 billion, but even this amount was inadequate to meet the project’s escalating costs.
For the current fiscal year, the National Treasury has allocated an additional Ksh 1 billion to the project. With these funds, the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) has been able to re-engage the contractor, who has since returned to the site to resume construction. NaMATA’s director general, Francis Gitau, has expressed optimism about the project’s progress, stating that piloting is now expected to begin in January 2025, leading up to full completion by March 15, 2025.
The revised contract period for the BRT project now stands at 55 months, a significant extension from the original 18-month timeline. This extension reflects the project’s complexity and the challenges that have arisen, particularly in securing consistent funding.
Project Scope and Objectives
The Nairobi BRT project is ambitious in both scope and impact. It involves the construction of 10 BRT stations along the Thika Superhighway, the acquisition of 100 high-capacity buses, and the establishment of dedicated bus lanes designed to ensure rapid and efficient transportation. With headways of just 90 seconds, the system is expected to handle up to 15,000 passengers per hour per direction, greatly enhancing the efficiency of public transport within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
The project also includes several ancillary developments, such as the modification of 10 existing footbridges, the creation of motorized and non-motorized lanes, and the design of boarding and alighting platforms at key locations like Ruiru. Additional infrastructure improvements include the development of depots at Kasarani and Ruiru, as well as a station at Kenyatta Hospital.
Traffic control measures during the construction phase, including road markings, signs, and other ancillary facilities, are also part of the project’s comprehensive approach to improving transportation in Nairobi.
NaMATA’s Role and the Broader Impact
NaMATA, established on February 9, 2017, under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, is the primary agency overseeing the implementation of the BRT project. The authority’s mandate extends beyond just the Thika Superhighway line; it is tasked with establishing an integrated, efficient, effective, and sustainable public transport system across the five counties that make up the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. These counties—Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Murang’a—collectively house a population of 10.4 million, representing a fifth of Kenya’s total population.
The broader goal of the BRT project is not only to decongest Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) but also to reduce travel time and air pollution. Traffic jams in Nairobi are estimated to cost the economy Ksh 2 billion annually, and the city’s transport sector is a significant contributor to air pollution, which is responsible for over 5,400 premature deaths each year in Kenya.
The Future of Public Transport in Nairobi
Once completed, the BRT system is expected to revolutionize public transportation in Nairobi. The project includes five distinct lines, each serving different parts of the city and its suburbs:
- BRT Line 1 (Ndovu): Limuru-Kangemi-CBD-Imara Daima-Athi River-Kitengela.
- BRT Line 2 (Simba): Rongai-Bomas-Langata Road-CBD-Ruiru-Thika-Kenol.
- BRT Line 3 (Chui): Tala-Njiru-Dandora-CBD-Showground-Ngong.
- BRT Line 4 (Kifaru): Divided into East (Mama Lucy Hospital-Donholm-CBD) and West (CBD-T Mall-Bomas-Karen-Kikuyu).
- BRT Line 5 (Nyati): Ridgeways-Kiambu Road-Balozi-Allsops-Imara Daima.
These lines are expected to accommodate up to 950 high-capacity buses, with electric-powered vehicles featuring intelligent transport systems. The system will cater to all passengers, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and will operate on a cashless fare system, with tickets purchased at automated machines.
The Nairobi BRT project, despite its delays, remains a critical component of the city’s efforts to create a more sustainable and efficient public transportation system. With the latest financial allocations and a renewed focus on completing the project, Nairobians can look forward to a future where traffic congestion is significantly reduced, and public transport is faster, safer, and more environmentally friendly.
