President Uhuru Kenyatta has launched the Diesel Multiple Units and a modernized rail system that will serve commuters within the Nairobi metropolitan area.
The Nairobi commuter rail project, is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan, of an integrated commuter system within the city and its environs also comprising the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), monorail and underground rail (Metro).
The light rail operated by Kenya Railways is expected to ease travel to a population of 10 million people living in the metropolitan area which consists of Nairobi County, Machakos County, Kiambu County, Kajiado County, and Murangá County.
Out of 11 Diesel Multiple Units the rail operator has in stock, five will begin serving high-density areas of Ruiru, Mwiki, Embakasi Village, Athi River, Kikuyu, Kahawa, Githurai, Dandora, Pipeline, and Donholm from the Nairobi Centra Station.
Cutting value of time
Speaking during the launch of the Sh 6.6bn project President Kenyatta said the new investment is aimed at cutting value of time lost in Nairobi which is estimated at between Sh 80m and Sh 400m. Currently, 20,000 commuters use the rail network on weekdays through lines originating from Nairobi Central station to Ruiru via Dandora, Githurai and Kahawa, to Syokimau via Makadara and Imara Daima, Embakasi village via Pipeline and Donholm and Kikuyu via Kibera and Dagoretti.
“Traffic congestion in the capital is also estimated to be denying the economy Sh 50m daily, while the loss in productivity has negatively impacted economic growth translating to a loss of Sh 100bn annually. The introduction of the light rail now means it will take less than an hour to get to the city centre compared to long excruciating hours Nairobians spend in traffic especially during peak hours,” said President Kenyatta.
“The current over-reliance on road transport has also negatively impacted on our environment and studies on climate change and environmental impacts indicate that the transport sector produces about 15% of Kenya’s total greenhouse gas emissions and that 39% of Kenya’s total CO2 emissions are generated by road transport. The rail system will help address climate change as the government targets to reduce the number of motor vehicle trips in the capital,” he added.
