This archive report was first published on 13 January 2020.
On January 13, 2020, the Kenyan government announced a major shift in its plans to implement the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Nairobi. Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga revealed that the decision to import BRT vehicles from South Africa had been shelved in favor of supporting local bus assembly and body fabricators.
According to Mr. Hinga, preference will now be given to the supplier of the Mercedes Benz buses to assemble the high-capacity buses in the country. The buses are intended for deployment on the Thika Super Highway and other major roads within the city.
However, the details of the plan remain unclear, including the location where the supplier will set up a local plant and the expected timeline for the project's implementation.
The move is expected to be supported by local assemblers who have been pushing the government to prioritize local manufacturing over imports.
As part of the BRT system, the government plans to launch six corridors in Nairobi, including JKIA to Likoni, James Gichuru-Rironi, and Bomas to Ruiru roads. At their optimum capacity, the corridors are expected to hold up to 950 high-capacity buses, reducing travel time and cost by up to 70 percent.
