Thika Road BRT Buses will be environmentally friendly- PS Hinga

State Department for Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga has revealed the types of much-awaited Bus Rapid Transport which will operate along Thika Highway.

The PS said on Saturday through his Twitter account that diesel propulsion BRT buses will be environmentally friendly.

“We are aspiring to go green. With bio-diesel (100% clean) becoming a reality in Kenya next year March, diesel propulsion buses shall use bio-diesel even as we develop electric buses infra,” Hinga said.

He shared some of the photos of the buses, saying they will have universal access -ramp, and the seating capacity makes provision for wheelchair bay.

They will also have the actual wheelchair docking bay, and priority seats for the elderly, sick, and mothers with kids.

He said that with time, Thika Road will have as many as 600 buses, which he said will be delivered progressively.

The BRT pilot was to start around June, but Namata director Francis Gitau said it has been pushed to February next year.

Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority had alluded to the delay to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government had earlier said that the BRT buses will arrive in December; and Namata is aiming for 60 electric buses.

Each bus can carry about 160 passengers and will use electronic cards for payment.

The high-capacity electric buses are expected to reduce the cost of transport as they will be cheaper to operate, attract cheaper financing and reduce the country's carbon footprint.

Thika BRT will share the road with other vehicles, but will have a designated inner lane and will not be separated physically from the general traffic lanes.