Gov’t Issues Nairobi Railway City Progress Report Ahead Of July Completion Deadline
The government has allocated Ksh2.03 billion in the 2026/27 financial year for the upgrade of the Riruta-Lenana-Ngong railway line.
This brings the total investment in the project to Ksh13.53 billion, with completion now scheduled for July 2026.
At the same time, billions more have been directed towards rail infrastructure within Nairobi and its environs, indicating a renewed push towards rail-based urban transport in the capital.
Budget estimates from the National Treasury show substantial funding for the Nairobi Railway City project, which aims to transform the existing railway yards in the CBD into a modern, integrated transport hub.
The twin investments form part of a wider government strategy to ease congestion in Nairobi by expanding and modernising the city’s rail network, while at the same time, improving connectivity to rapidly growing suburban areas.
The 12.5-kilometre line comprises four stations: Riruta, Karen, Bulbul, and Ngong-serving Nairobi’s southern corridor.
The line branches off from the existing Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) at Riruta, near Lenana School.
The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service keeps you moving fast, reliable, and affordable, connecting you seamlessly across the city every day.
— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) April 15, 2026
From Nairobi Central Railway Station to Ruiru, Embakasi, Syokimau, Lukenya, Limuru, Kikuyu, and Athi River, enjoy a smooth, stress-free… pic.twitter.com/kLd96KA5M4
The project is intended to transport more than 10,000 passengers per day and will significantly reduce peak-hour travel times from 2 hours to about 30 minutes, alleviating traffic congestion in Nairobi.
The allocation comes even as the project faces ongoing court challenges, particularly over the legality of its tender procurement process.
However, on March 6, the court lifted earlier orders that had temporarily halted construction, allowing works to proceed.
At the same time, the government is also converting underutilised railway land within the city into a world-class transit hub that will integrate commuter rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), non-motorised transport, and pedestrian walkways.
The ambitious Nairobi Railway City project has been allocated Ksh436 million in the coming financial year.
It is worth noting that the total cost of the Nairobi Railway City project is estimated at around Ksh28 billion, despite the Ksh436 million allocation.
The project is a flagship UK-Kenya partnership initiative aimed at transforming 425 acres of land between Haile Selassie Avenue, Uhuru Highway, Landhies Road, and Bunyala Road into a modern, multimodal urban development anchored on a new Central Railway Station.
It will be located just south of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), in the same general area as the existing Central Railway Station, and about 11 kilometres from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
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The plan also includes relocating the Central Bus Station north of the current railway site to create space for the redevelopment.
Once completed, the facility is expected to act as a major interchange for thousands of commuters entering the CBD daily, easing congestion and potentially reducing the number of vehicles and matatus accessing the city centre.
According to Kenya Railways, the Nairobi Railway City project has been designed into six distinct zones, each designated for specific urban and transport functions within the wider development plan.
The project also comes as the government fast-tracks the rollout of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in the city.
The Treasury has allocated additional funds in the next financial year to support construction and related infrastructure within Nairobi’s transport network.
Gov’t Issues Nairobi Railway City Progress Report Ahead Of July Completion Deadline
