Nairobians are soon going to have a faster and easier ride to the airport as the government releases new details about its plans for the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit Line 5.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the long-awaited project connecting the city centre to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is at an advanced stage of approval by the National Treasury.
This comes after months of radio silence that had left many commuters in suspense, speculating when the plan would finally take off.
Sakaja, in a statement, confirmed that the project will receive backing from the Korean government.
“Korea will also build Line 5 of the Bus Rapid Transit line connecting the City Centre to JKIA. The project is in its final stage of approval by the National Treasury,” he said.
These remarks followed a meeting at City Hall with Korea’s Ambassador to Kenya, Kang Hyung-shik, where various development projects were on the table, with the BRT line topping the list.
BRT is expected to revolutionize the way Nairobi moves within the city. Unlike regular buses, which crawl along congested roads, BRT buses run on dedicated lanes; they can deliver speedier, more reliable service, almost like a train on wheels.
Last year, it secured a KSh7.6 billion loan from the Korean Export-Import Bank to finance the project.
The funds will support the building of dedicated high-capacity lanes on a route stretching 10.5 kilometers, connecting the Eastern Bypass through Thika Superhighway and extending to the airport.
Construction was earlier said by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority to start in January 2025 and had already invited tenders.
The project does bring hope of shorter travel times and less stress for many city residents who spend hours in gridlock, especially those speeding their way to flights or heading to work.
Sakaja said Nairobi would work with Korea through the implementation of the project in time, promoting ease of congestion and boosting safety for reliable transport.
He has also taken into account Korea’s intention to open its mission in Lavington, which develops the deep friendship between both countries that dates back to the 1960s. If all goes well, the new BRT line may soon change the daily commute of thousands of Nairobi dwellers.
