President William Ruto revived plans to set up a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Nairobi following a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on Thursday, March 30.
According to the State House communique, Kenya and European Union explored the interest in pursuing a financing agreement for the Nairobi BRT line 3 project. It committed Ksh50 billion (347.6 million Euros) for the project.
European Union stated the project will establish the first dedicated electric bus rapid lane in East Africa.
"The Green Mobility-Nairobi core bus rapid transit line 3 (BRT 3) will feature zero-emission electric buses and will introduce intelligent transport system features and affordable fare setting," the State House statement read in part.
"Inclusion of access to the public transport system for youth, women and low-income households, and addresses traveler safety," the statement added.
The project is expected to ease traffic in Nairobi and bolster the city's transport system.
During the meeting in Belgium, Ruto reiterated Kenya’s commitment to a green transition aligned with the climate change mitigation plan.
The government had started building BRT lanes along Thika Road. However, funding challenges delayed the completion of the Ksh5.6 billion BRT system that runs from Kasarani through the Nairobi city center to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) area.
The project was to be opened for public use in June 2022.
Its first phase had dedicated two innermost lanes of the Thika Superhighway to high-capacity buses and erected boarding ramps to ease bus access.
Plans to build another BRT line connecting Nairobi Central Business District to Dandora also stalled due to financing challenges.
Besides the BRT project, Kenya and the EU committed to mobilising investment targeting Small and Medium Enterprises and youth innovators across various sectors, including agriculture, industry, transport, renewable energy, and women empowerment.
"An agreement was reached to finalise the Economic Partnership Agreement within two months. They also undertook to work towards the establishment of financing instruments to avert the effects of the climate crisis and respond to the stress experienced by African countries, including the debt, food and energy," State House indicated.
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