Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called on French investors to partner with Nairobi City County to facilitate growth, especially in infrastructure development.
The county boss who is in Paris assured the investors that his government has put in place robust measures not only to improve the business environment but also to enhance private investments.
Sakaja however stated that Nairobi, like many regional hubs in emerging markets, has a rapidly expanding population and the city’s infrastructure struggles to keep pace.
Thus needs investors to boost the infrastructural projects.
“One challenge that this creates is traffic, which means a large amount of time is spent in the numerous tailbacks that occur in and around the city but the construction of the Expressway and the planned BRT system will ease the road traffic snarl,” Sakaja said.
He made the remarks while speaking at Ambition Africa in Paris, France, discussing African cities and urban mobility.
The Governor commended a French bank for supporting the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Line 3 - Chui.
Line 3 will run from Githurai through Thika Road to Moi Avenue in the CBD, ending at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The line which is yet to be constructed is being funded by AFD ( the French Development Bank), EIB (European Investment Bank) and other Europeans
Courting the investors, Sakaja stated that Public-private partnerships that involve collaboration between a government agency and a private-sector company can be used to finance, build, and operate projects, such as public transportation networks, parks, and convention centres.
“Financing a project through a public-private partnership enables projects to be completed sooner or make it a possibility in the first place. That is why I say here today that Nairobi is open for business,” he said.
BRT is expected to offer a reliable mode of commuter transport thereby decongesting the Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Once rolled out it will also ease transport woes, reduce travel time, and reduce air pollution.
The state has identified five corridors to decongest Nairobi roads.
Line 1 will run from James Gichuru road-Waiyaki Way to JKIA, a distance of 20km.
The 31-km Line 2 will run from Lang’ata Road through Ngong, Juja, and Komarock roads to Ruiru with major stops at Dandora, Kariobangi, and Gikomba Market.
BRT Line Four also known as the Kifaru line is expected to pass through Mama Lucy- Jogoo Rd- CBD - Valley Rd- Yaya Centre - Kawangware - Kikuyu- Gitaru
To facilitate the movement of goods, the government allocated Sh1.1 billion for the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit project for this Financial Year 2023-24
The state is banking on the BRT project to help curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The BRT project, meant to decongest the city, was allocated Sh1.2 billion in the 2022-23 budget.
Authorities say BRT will be a reliable mode of commuter transport planned to decongest the central business district, ease transport woes, reduce travel time and reduce air pollution