Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is seeking the intervention of the political class to relocate matatus from the Railways Bus terminus to pave way for a Sh236 billion regeneration project.
Managing Director Phillip Mainga told National Assembly’s Committee on Transport and Infrastructure said the move will fast-track the commencement and progression of the Nairobi Railway City Project (NRCP)
“Kenya Railways seeks the support of the political leaders in addition to the government to relocate matatus from Railways Bus Station to Green Park in Uhuru Park,” Mainga said.
Mainga further called for the construction of an underground tunnel from Green Park in Uhuru Park across the Uhuru Highway to Haile Selassie for the movement of commuters and to ease congestion on Uhuru Highway.
NRCP is of great national significance as it forms part of the core strategy for the regeneration of Nairobi Railway Station and the surrounding areas, which will ultimately improve the face of Nairobi City.
A master plan for the NRCP was prepared by Dohwa Engineering in a joint venture with GIBB Africa and finalized in June 2018.
It is also one of the priority projects identified for the expansion of Nairobi's CBD through the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan.
It seeks to regenerate the area around the Nairobi Central Station to improve the value of the property and create an ultra-modern living, working and trading environment
It further seeks to expand the Nairobi CBD to the South East.
The project site is located at the centre of Nairobi city and is surrounded by the industrial area to the south, the CBD area to the north and residential houses on the eastern side. The total area is approximately 425 acres (the "Project Land"), which is within the main core railway operational area.
The government has been receiving technical support from the United Kingdom government through the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office.
On 8 June 2022, Kenya and the UK signed an MOU unlocking the partnership and financing of the project.
The UK Government shall finance the project to the tune of 95 per cent of the cost while GOK will cover the remaining 5 per cent.
