Chirchir, Mudavadi outline new urban transport vision for Nairobi Metro region
The government has announced an ambitious urban transport plan for the Nairobi Metropolitan area that aims to evacuate up to 30,000 commuters per hour by the year 2030 through a multi-modal system anchored at the Nairobi Railway Central Station.
In a statement posted on X on July 21, 2025, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir explained that the revamped central station will act as the hub of the Nairobi Railway City initiative, connecting commuter rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and non-motorised transport networks.
You might also like
“The Government plans to evacuate 30,000 people per hour by 2030 via the Nairobi Railway Central Station—a bold target backed by a multi-modal transport ecosystem,” Chirchir said.
“The Central Station is dubbed the ‘first mover’ project, serving as the nexus of the Nairobi Railway City initiative,” he added.
Railway, BRT infrastructure overhaul
In the updates following the third consultative meeting of the G7+ Development Partners Transport Sector Pilot Programme, chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Chirchir further disclosed that the plan will include the rehabilitation of 165 kilometres of existing commuter rail lines and the development of new links to enhance mobility across the metropolitan zone.
“The proposed 30.5 km Riruta–Ngong–Kiserian–Ongata Rongai line is one of the most ambitious additions, designed to integrate commuter traffic from rapidly growing satellite towns,” he stated.
Chirchir also revealed that several BRT corridors are in development, including routes from Dandora to Hospitals, Mama Lucy to Kikuyu, and Ruiru to the CBD.
He emphasised that the integration of BRT with improved road interchange capacities demonstrates the government’s commitment to mainstreaming high-capacity public transport across the capital.
“Multiple Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines—including Dandora to Hospitals, Mama Lucy to Kikuyu, and Ruiru to CBD are in various design and implementation stages, with Phase 1 of Line 3 identified as a priority corridor,” he explained.
Promoting sustainability
In his statement, Mudavadi noted that the meeting, held at the Railways Headquarters, provided an opportunity to evaluate progress on flagship infrastructure initiatives aimed at easing congestion in Nairobi and promoting sustainability.
“Our dialogue with Their Excellencies, members of the diplomatic corps, and our esteemed partners, led by British High Commissioner Neil Wigan, underscored our collective resolve to transform Nairobi’s urban infrastructure through partnership, innovation, and accountability,” he said.
Mudavadi emphasised that the ongoing pilot programs are a crucial component of Kenya’s development journey and reaffirmed the government’s dedication to delivering safer, greener, and more efficient transport options for all Kenyans.
“Together, let us continue charting the path toward a better connected, greener, and more livable Nairobi for generations to come,” Mudavadi concluded.
