Nairobi could get its first major metro rail link in 2028, with the government targeting a 10-kilometre route between the Central Business District (CBD) and Eastlands as the opening phase of a Sh1 trillion transport project.
The planned Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is expected to combine underground and surface rail sections before expanding into a 30-kilometre network across the city.
The project is aimed at addressing the growing pressure on Nairobi’s roads by moving large numbers of passengers more efficiently and reducing the number of private and public vehicles on congested routes.
Dr Silvester Kasuku, an adviser in the Executive Office of the President and lead consultant for the project, said the government was considering several ways of raising the money needed to deliver the massive infrastructure project.
The financing model will include public-private partnerships (PPPs), the National Infrastructure Fund, climate finance and carbon funding.
The government plans to bring together the different sources of financing to reduce the burden of funding the project from a single source while attracting private investment and climate-related funding.
Kasuku said the project would be assessed based on its ability to improve transport as well as the wider economic benefits it could generate.
Eastlands route gets priority
The CBD-Eastlands corridor has been selected for the first phase because of the large population living in Eastlands and the heavy demand for transport between the area and the city centre.
The metro plan is being developed under President William Ruto’s Vision 2060, with the government linking improved public transport to Nairobi’s future growth and economic development.
Kasuku said residents currently spend between 2.5 and three hours a day stuck in traffic.
He warned that the situation could become worse if the city fails to make major changes to its transport system, with time lost in traffic projected to reach four hours per person by 2040 and six hours by 2060.
“Within 20 minutes you should he where you are goong "Dr Kase-said, adding Cat MRTS could bring travel tines within that range depending on distance.
The proposed system is also expected to reduce fuel consumption by about 70 million litres and cut carbon dioxide emissions from transport, which Kasuku estimated at about 1.6 million tonnes every year.
The rail network will not operate on its own. It is expected to connect with other public transport systems, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), giving passengers the option of transferring between services and continuing their journeys beyond the metro routes.
Police stations planned at stations
Security measures are also being considered as part of the design, particularly because some sections of the system will operate underground.
Kasuku said police stations would be established at different stages of the network, alongside regular police patrols, to address concerns over passenger safety.
The project is also expected to provide more than 115,000 jobs, according to the consultant.
The need for a new transport solution comes as Nairobi continues to struggle with congestion. The 2024 Numbeo Traffic Index placed the city second among African cities, recording a traffic index score of 249, behind Lagos in Nigeria, which had a score of 354.5.
Patrick Analo Akiaga, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban Planning and a former member of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Masterplan (NIUPLAN) task force, said a metro system could lower the amount residents spend on public transport by allowing more people to travel at once.
“It will also be a calalyst for metropolitan growth and expansion as city residents can cover wide travel distances within shorter time, Mr Analo said
Analo said the system could also make Nairobi safer, particularly for women and children, while improving the city’s appearance and residents’ quality of life.
He said the planned investment fits into urban development priorities contained in the United Nations-Habitat New Urban Agenda and African Union goals and targets running to 2035.
Nairobi’s proposed metro rail would place Kenya among African countries that have developed metro or rapid rail systems.
Egypt has the Cairo Metro, Algeria operates the Algiers Metro, while South Africa has the Gautrain.
However, Maurura Omwenga, chairperson of the Town and County Planners Association of Kenya, warned that metro rail should not be treated as the only answer to Nairobi’s transport challenges.
Omwenga said the city needs a broader transport plan that brings together different solutions and allows authorities to compare their benefits and weaknesses before committing to major investments.
“It is going to be a very expensive project and transport of the city must always be taken in a comprehensive manner, he said urging authorities to bring all public transport services into the plan.
The metro rail proposal has been on the table for several years without moving into implementation.
Kasuku said Nairobi’s rapidly growing population and worsening traffic had increased the need for a clear transport plan capable of serving the city over the long term.