President William Ruto displayed a strong commitment to improving and enhancing the competitiveness of Kenya's transport infrastructure. To demonstrate this serious intent, he allocated Ksh39.9 billion to critical infrastructure projects aimed at tackling the persistent traffic challenges in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
In the budget presented by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u in Parliament on June 15, the CS highlighted Ruto's emphasis on revitalizing the railway sector. This was demonstrated by the allocation of Ksh37.4 billion to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
Besides the huge SGR allocation, Ruto proposed a Ksh579 million kitty to rehabilitate other locomotives operating on various Nairobi routes, with a keen focus on the meter gauge railway (MGR).
Additionally, CS Ndung'u, in his presentation, revealed that President Ruto had earmarked Ksh889 million for the development of Nairobi Railway City.
The Nairobi Railway City is an iconic multi-modal urban development projected to be within 425 acres between Haile Sellasie Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Landhies Road and Bunyala Road.
The UK government will facilitate the project with Ksh30 billion. Ruto will supplement this effort with the Ksh889 million allocated in the budget.
To actualise the Nairobi Rapid Bus Transport System (BRT), which stalled due to financial constraints, Ruto proposed allocating Ksh1.1 billion for its revival.
The project was conceived during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's reign and was touted to solve the traffic crisis in the city. A section of Thika Road was earmarked for the BRT buses, with pick-up points established at different points along the highway.
However, the BRT bus project stalled years after its foundation was laid. A World Bank report published on Monday, August 1, 2022, cited poor institutional policies as a major reason for the derailment.
The World Bank observed that the absence of dedicated and well-capacitated transport authorities, poor coordination among institutions, and lack of political support further hampered the country's plans to adopt a long-term, consistent approach to the financial management of BRT systems.
"I propose to the National Assembly to allocate Ksh1.1 billion for Nairobi Bus Rapid Transport Project; and Ksh300 million for the acquisition of ferries for Lake Victoria.
"Towards this end, I propose to the National Assembly to effect budget allocations of Ksh244.9 billion, to support construction of roads and bridges as well as their rehabilitation and maintenance," Ndung'u stated on plans to support the infrastructural sector.
Ruto also plans to launch an electric bus transport system to reduce the high cost of transportation caused by spiking fuel prices.
