Six months after the groundbreaking ceremony, Kenya Railways commenced the construction works of Phase 1 of the Nairobi Railway City.
President William Samoei Ruto officially presided over the groundbreaking of the Sh27.9 billion project in December last year at the Nairobi Central Railway station.
Kenya Railways Managing Director Phillip Mainga on Monday announced that the overall scope of the Phase one early works has commenced.
The works will cover the construction of a pedestrian footbridge across the Nairobi Railway Yard, the construction of a new Nairobi Central Railway station and a public square.
“The pedestrian footbridge across the Nairobi Railway yard will be all-weather, modern and will also be convenient for people living with disabilities,” Mainga said in a statement.
The iconic footbridge had been closed in 2022 for some uplift.
The footbridge is often been used by the public but left damaged after years of use.
It connects Haille Selassie Avenue to Bunyala Road.
Kenya Railways in December 2018 warned Nairobians about the failure of the footbridge that occurred after the bridge had been overcrowded.
However, it was fixed and opened to the public for use.
With the Nairobi Railway City in place, the footbridge will now undergo a whole upgrade.
Other works in phase one also include hoarding and securing of the railway station and public park site, detailed drainage overhaul within the Nairobi Railway yard and construction of a new structural steel Locomotive shed (CXR Sick shed) at the Makadara Yard
Also, relocation of the existing shed at Nairobi Yard, as well as the paving of Kenya Railways Headquarters driveway and car park are part of the works to be done in phase one.
Kenya Railways has further advised pedestrians and rail commuters to be cautious as they move in and out of the Nairobi Central Station, urging them to use the designated pathways to avoid any incidents.
President William Ruto's government is banking on the Nairobi Railway City plan not only to decongest the city centre but change the face of Nairobi.
With the Sh27.9 billion Nairobi Railway City, Railway infrastructure and water supply will take the bulk of the costs at Sh17.5 billion and Sh3.9 billion respectively.
The iconic multi-modal urban development project will be situated within 425 acres, of which 292 acres are owned by the Kenya Railways and currently serving as the Nairobi Railway Station.
The implementation of the project is estimated to take 20 years, with the first phase (development) expected to take place between now and 2030.
The project, which is part of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Plan also aims at expanding the capital's Central Business District.