This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
Nairobi, a city of 4.4 million people, has long struggled with a chaotic transport system based on mostly private matatus. The World Bank estimates that residents spend an average of two hours daily commuting due to traffic congestion.
However, the government is working to modernise the city's transport system. In two weeks, refurbished Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) bought for Nairobi City will arrive in Kenya. The units will form part of the Nairobi Railway city master plan, which aims to provide a modern commuter transport system.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) is also implementing the non-motorised master plan, which will see some streets in the central business district turned into pedestrian walkways. This is part of a broader plan to decongest the city and provide safe, reliable, and affordable services.
According to Kenya Railways, the refurbished DMUs were acquired from Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM) for Sh1.15 billion. The units have a remaining economic useful life of 23-25 years and will be used on the Nairobi Commuter Rail system.
The DMUs will service five routes, including Nairobi Central Station to Syokimau, Embakasi Village, Ruiru, and Kikuyu. This will see the building of nine new stations, including Kenyatta University, Umoja, Kibera, Thogoto, Mbagathi Way, Thika, Kitengela, Dagoretti, and Strathmore University.
Managing director Philip Mainga said the project aims to reduce commuting time, ease congestion on roads, minimise carbon emissions, and provide safe, reliable, and affordable services. The project is currently in progress and will see the rehabilitation of 26 kilometer Makadara–Ruiru line, the 31km Nairobi-Kikuyu line, the 7.2 kilometre Makadara-Embakasi village line, and the rehabilitation of Nairobi Central Railway station.
