Road engineers dedicate a lane on Thika Road designated for bus rapid
transit system, on April 5, 2018. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO | NATION MEDIA
GROUP
The Sh9.6 billion Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project got a
major boost on Wednesday after the European Union (EU) committed a Sh5
billion grant towards its implementation.
The
project, which was launched in 2015 by President Uhuru Kenyatta, has
been on hold for lack of funds to buy high-capacity buses and support
infrastructure.
EU Ambassador to
Kenya Stefano Dejak said the money will be used to develop and install
BRT supporting infrastructure in three years.
50 BUSES
“The
one thing that Nairobi needs is to have an effective BRT system. That
is why EU has invested a Sh5 billion grant to make sure you the people
of Nairobi will have an effective, safe, not polluting, not jamming, bus
transport system,” said Mr Dejak during the occasion to mark the World
Cities Day in Eastleigh Wednesday.
About
Sh7 billion of the amount will be used to develop five BRT lines and
installing the necessary infrastructure while Sh2.6 billion will be used
to procure 50 high-capacity buses.
REMAINING BILL
The
national and county governments will foot the remaining Sh4.6 billion —
for the full implementation of the project which will see installation
of other link roads such as Likoni, Enterprise, Lusaka and Parklands
Ring roads as well as a walkway on Rabai Road.
Speaking
at the same event, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko said his administration
will ensure that the initiative is fast-tracked to meet the laid-down
deadlines.
TRANSPORT POLICY
He
said that after the completion of the BRT system and introduction of
commuter rail services, passengers and commuters should be able to
access bus and railway stations safely by foot or by cycling, adding
that the Nairobi non-motorised transport policy states that all new
projects must include provision of safe walkways and cycle lanes.
“As
the co-chair of Nairobi Regeneration Committee, of which President
Kenyatta is the chair, I will not tolerate any laziness in
implementation of projects funded by the EU,” said Governor Sonko. The
event also marked the launch of the 2.2 kilometre General Waruinge-Juja
Road-Thika Superhighway link road which is among the 16km link roads in
the city that the EU is funding to ease traffic flow in Nairobi.
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