Kenya railway announced that it had begun the construction of the Ksh30 billion Nairobi railway City on Monday, February 13.
Speaking during the launch of the first phase of the projects, Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga stated that construction of the project would begin with a pedestrian footbridge across the Nairobi Railway yard.
Additionally, the MD stated that the footbridge will be constructed over the new Nairobi Central Railway Station and a public square.
At the same time, Mainga reiterated that the move was a viable and lasting solution to the congestion in Nairobi CBD because of the expansion.
The works will also include holding and securing the railway station and public park site, a detailed overhaul within the Nairobi railway yard, and the construction of a new locomotive shade.
"The pedestrian footbridge across the Nairobi Railway Yard will be all-weather, modern, and accessible to people with disabilities,” Mainga stated.
The project, which will be partially financed by the United Kingdom, will be executed under the public-private partnership module.
That means that the government would allow the investor to build and operate the facility to pay back the investment it made before handing over the railway city to the government.
The project was officially commissioned by president William Ruto in December 2022, to allow businessmen in the city centre to move to the newly developed Special Economic Zones
“These are strategic interventions aimed at complementing the pillars of our transformation agenda to facilitate easier and faster movement by easing urban congestion and eliminating costly delays on our roads,” Ruto stated
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed that Kenya almost failed to secure funding for the railway city because of failing to submit the requisite documents on time.
However, Mudavadi stated that Ruto engaged UK officials to strike Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the city, saving the ksh30 billion project.
"The President made an important intervention. Apparently, there was a delay that was jeopardizing this very project in terms of our documents so that we could secure the UK-F's funding and support,” Mudavadi stated.
