Nairobi set for transport overhaul with Railway City cabinet approval
According to the Cabinet, passenger demand is projected to hit 400,000 daily by 2030 and grow to 600,000 by 2045. The new station will feature nine platforms and better access bridges, allowing it to handle up to 30,000 people per hour.
The government has approved the implementation of the Nairobi Railway City Central Station and Public Realm Project, a major plan aimed at easing congestion in the capital and giving the city centre a fresh look through modern infrastructure.
The announcement was made following a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, where the project was described as part of a wider national plan to transform urban areas.
The project will upgrade the existing Central Station into a modern, multi-modal transport hub designed to serve the growing population and meet future transport needs.
“This flagship project, seen as a critical step in attracting private investment to the Railway City, will modernise the outdated Central Station into a state-of-the-art, multi-modal transport hub,” the Cabinet noted.
According to the Cabinet, passenger demand is projected to hit 400,000 daily by 2030 and grow to 600,000 by 2045.
The new station will feature nine platforms and better access bridges, allowing it to handle up to 30,000 people per hour.
The government also highlighted that the surrounding areas will undergo public space improvements to unlock underused land, draw more people to the central business district, and spur economic activity.
“The project is expected to drive job creation, urban regeneration, and sustainable growth, establishing the station as Nairobi’s premier transport interchange and a symbol of the city’s future urban vision,” the Cabinet dispatch reads in part.
On funding and readiness, President Ruto said the project already has financial backing for major connections. These include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 3, several commuter rail lines, and a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) link to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
During the same Cabinet meeting, the government also approved the expansion of the 20.2-kilometre Nairobi Northern Bypass into a dual carriageway. The road runs from Ruaka in Kiambu to Ruiru and links the Western and Eastern bypasses, a move expected to ease traffic flow in the northern parts of the city.
