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Construction of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Line 5 along the Outer Ring Road in Nairobi is set to begin in June 2023.

On completion, the BRT will play a vital role in transforming the city, and is expected to ease traffic woes in Nairobi and the surrounding satellite towns. The Kenyan Government has allocated Ksh700 million (US$5.9 million) for this project. 

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) awarded a consultancy contract for the BRT Line 5 to a Korean consortium led by Kunhwa Engineering Company. The scope of the Line 5 consultancy contract includes detailed engineering design, help with contractor identification, construction supervision, and support during the defects liability period.

Some key features of the new BRT are the right-of-way lane, coloured pavements, dedicated BRT lanes, flyovers, and the use of digital fare payment. It also includes the level station, pre-paid fare collection, information, footbridges, sidewalks, pedestrian crossing, facilities for persons with disabilities, and parking lots.

Bus Rapid Transport (BRT)

A sneak preview of the soon to be launched Bus Rapid Transport(BRT) system in Nairobi underway.@Ke_NaMATA is spearheading the implementation of the system which will rid Nairobi CBD of matatu mayhem and traffic snurl ups.#KenyaProjects pic.twitter.com/YPpyUGP54g

— Kenya Projects (@KenyaProjectske) September 11, 2021

The Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) is executing the BRT development in Nairobi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta established NaMATA in 2017. It covers Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Murang’a to create safe and effective public transport systems. NaMATA has announced five BRT lines, all in different phases of development. 

The transport authority is focused on five corridors of BRT:

• Line 1: Limuru-Kangemi-CBD-Imara Daima-Athi River and Kitengela.
• Line 2: Rongai-Bomas-Langata Road-CBD-Ruiru-Thika and Kenol.
• Line 3: Tala-Njiru-Dandora (Juja Road)-CBD-Show Ground (Ngong Road) and Ngong.
• Line 4: East: Mama Lucy Hospital-Donholm (Jogoo Road)-CBD.
• Line 4: West: CBD-T Mall-Bomas-Karen and Kikuyu.
• Line 5: Ridgeways (Kiambu Road)-Balozi (Allsops) and Imara Daima.

Silas Kinoti, KURA director-general, spoke at the project signing which took place at Barabara Plaza in May 2022. "You have won a very competitive contract, and I have confidence in your vast experience. I assure you of our full support. We want this to be the first and fastest BRT to be fully implemented in Nairobi," he said.

Mr. Kyeong Jeong, Kunhwa project manager, said the project would be implemented efficiently, and they would aim for a quick set-up.

The BRT system is expected to ultimately ease traffic flow in congested and remote areas and slowly integrate with another commute line 6 from Nairobi to other places such as Murang’a, Ngong, Kiambu, and Konza. 

Top Photo: Ongoing construction for the development of BRT in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (@Ke_NaMATA Twitter handle | Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority)