- In November 2019, the government floated the BRT tender, saying it intends to improve the infrastructure of the Thika Superhighway to accommodate the project.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has exuded confidence that the Bus Rapid Transit will be implemented as planned.
Namata CEO Francis Gitau said the demarcation of the corridor should be ready by June.
"We have gotten early entry. We are so happy because the government is working as one. The Ministry of Sports has been a good partner," Gitau told the Star in his office.
The Kasarani sports arena, which is under the Sports ministry, is set to host park and ride facilities for BRT and works have already started.
Gitau said Kasarani sports arena provides a perfect position as a transport hub.
He said the arena will not only benefit the sports agenda in the country but also transform public transportation.
BRT will be a reliable mode of commuter transport planned to decongest the central business district, ease transport woes, reduce travel time as well as reduce air pollution.
In November last year, Gitau said plans were at an advanced stage to acquire at least 10 acres near Kasarani Sports Centre for BRT.
Namata was established by President Uhuru Kenyatta on February 9, 2017.
It covers Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Murang’a counties.
The authority is mandated to establish an integrated, efficient, effective and sustainable public transport system.
Gitau said they are happy the land where the project will be implemented belongs to government agencies.
"In Ruiru station, we have Kenya Railways land, we also have Kenya National Highways Authority land. All these are government agencies and they are all in the project development agency," he said.
Gitau said they are lucky as they will have early access.
In November 2019, the government floated the BRT tender, saying it intends to improve the infrastructure of the Thika Superhighway to accommodate the project.
The project will be carried out in two phases under one contract. The first section will be between Clayworks to the Nairobi CBD, while the second phase will start from Clayworks to Ruiru.
A Chinese firm known as Stecol Corporation secured the Sh5.6 billion contract to construct special lanes for high-capacity buses in July.
The buses are to operate between Thika Superhighway and Nairobi city centre and Kenyatta National Hospital.
Gitau said Nairobi was growing so fast. The city has a population of 4,397,037.
Traffic snarl-ups in the Nairobi metropolis are estimated to cost the country Sh2 billion annually.
"We need to act now, action is required. BRT is one of the best actions," he said.
Gitau said a communication plan had been developed and that all stakeholders will be involved.
He said once the corridor is complete, close to 100 buses will be deployed. Gitau said buses are more natural in the environment.
He said the buses must be easy to access by children, the elderly and people with disability.
They are fitted with an intelligent transport system as well as a technology that allows for cashless systems.
The CEO said they do not anticipate delays. "Our wish is that we do not want to see timelines shifted and the contractor is working towards that," he said.
He said buses will be competitively sourced. Gitau said stakeholders in the sector have been involved since March 22, 2019.
Those who own matatus and are set to be affected by the project will be sensitised. He said BRT will not dislodge matatus.
Five corridors have been identified to decongest Nairobi roads.
Line 1 is to run from James Gichuru Road/Waiyaki Way to JKIA, a distance of 20km.
The 31-km line 2 will run from Lang’ata Road to Ngong Road, Juja Road, Komarock Road to Ruiru with major stops at Dandora, Kariobangi, and Gikomba Market.
Line 3 will run from Githurai through Thika Road to Moi Avenue in the CBD, terminating at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Edited by Henry Makori