State seeks Sh7.8bn to upgrade Nairobi Railway Station

The government has initiated talks with the World Bank to fund the upgrade of the first phase of Nairobi Railway station at a cost of Sh7.8 billion.

The facility is set for a facelift as the government seeks to redesign it into a multi-channel transport hub.

The project entails opening at least 20 upgraded and new railway stations on the Nairobi routes to increase commuter numbers.

“It’s a big plan which we have for the railway network. Phase one will be about Sh7.8 billion and that’s what we are finalising with World Bank,” said Mr Macharia.

A team comprising the Kenya Railways, Nairobi County Government, Urban and Metropolitan Development Directorate, Land ministry and the Housing and Urban Department official has so far sought views from the public on the project.

The project will look into facilities to be erected within the railway station’s 213 acres transforming the old Nairobi Railway yard into a transport hub for commuters and long distance travellers.

“We are actually done with feasibility studies and design plans. The issue we are tackling at the moment is about how we can source for funds to implement this project,” he said.

Traffic pile-up within the city and its environs has generated a heated but “an incomplete debate” on how traffic should be freed up within the city.

There’s a metropolitan transport authority that is working on easing up vehicular traffic, while also assessing what is happening in Kiambu, Kajiado, Murang’a, Machakos counties.

The redesign will be in phases to accommodate facilities such as hotels, malls and bus stops.

After revamp, it will be accessible from key adjacent roads such as Bunyala, Landhies, Uhuru Highway and Haile Selassie Avenue.