Seven Nairobi rail lines to be rehabilitated

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has identified seven commuter rail lines for rehabilitation and new train acquisitions to ease congestion in Nairobi.

The project will cover the entire 165-kilometer Nairobi Commuter Rail (NCR) network, including key routes such as Nairobi-Limuru, Thika, Nairobi-Konza, Nairobi-Embakasi Village, Ngong-Kiserian, Kiserian-Ongata Rongai to Nyayo Stadium, and the Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) link.

“These interventions are expected to improve the safety, accessibility, and reliability of the NCR services resulting in reduced travel time, increased user comfort, operating cost savings, and reduction of pollution, congestion, and road accidents,” KRC stated.

The initiative, part of the World Bank-supported Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP), will focus on modernizing the rail network while ensuring minimal disruption to current operations.

KRC has invited consultancy bids for designing the project, which will include upgrading signaling and communication systems, automating fare collection, acquiring high-capacity trains, and enhancing inter-modal connectivity.

A disclosure by the World Bank on September 17, 2024, revealed that Kenya has applied for Sh86.58 billion ($670 million) in funding for KUMIP. The Nairobi-Ruiru-Thika line has been prioritized for these improvements.

In October 2024, the World Bank committed Sh65 billion for the construction of a new 58-kilometer rail network to enhance commuter services in Nairobi.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir emphasized that the project aims to transport 100,000 passengers daily and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2025 financial year.

“We aim to finish this by the end of the financial year 2025,” Chirchir said.

The modernization is part of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Development under the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Masterplan, designed to ease congestion and improve service delivery.

Planned upgrades include railway line rehabilitation, improved ticketing, enhanced signaling, and additional trains.

Chirchir noted that several railway stations have already been completed, including those in Ruiru, Githurai, Dandora, Kariobangi, Lukenya, Kitengela, Aviation, Mutindwa, Kenyatta University, Satellite, Mlolongo, and Konza.

“We have ongoing projects in Kibera, Makongeni, Mutuini, Thogoto, and Kariobangi,” he said, adding that the government plans to complete 32 new stations to increase commuter capacity within the Nairobi metropolitan area.