Nairobi County is planning to construct a modern garage complex to accommodate mechanics and traders who will be relocated from the Grogan area as part of the ongoing Nairobi River Basin Regeneration Programme (NaBREP).
Governor Johnson Sakaja announced the plan on Tuesday, saying the new facility is intended to provide a permanent and improved working environment for businesses that will be affected by the river restoration project.
According to the governor, the proposed garage will have the capacity to accommodate up to 1,200 vehicles, making it one of the largest automotive service hubs in the city.
Beyond parking space, the facility is expected to feature vehicle showrooms, spray-painting booths, car wash bays and dedicated training rooms to help mechanics improve their skills. The county also plans to include clinics, retail shops and kitchens within the complex, allowing workers to access essential services without leaving the premises.
The announcement comes a day after Sakaja met representatives of Grogan mechanics and traders operating within Nairobi’s Central Business District. During the meeting, the parties reportedly agreed on the relocation to pave the way for the Nairobi River Basin Regeneration Programme.
Addressing the affected traders, Sakaja acknowledged the disruption the exercise would cause but maintained that the relocation was necessary to support efforts aimed at restoring the Nairobi River and creating a cleaner, more organised capital.
He also listened to concerns from traders over the rising cost of importing goods, with some noting that import charges have increased from KSh2.5 million to KSh3.2 million per container.
Grogan has long been marked for redevelopment because parts of the area lie within the Nairobi River riparian reserve, making it one of the locations targeted under the regeneration programme.
NaBREP is a multibillion-shilling project that is currently being undertaken by both levels of government via the Nairobi Rivers Commission. The project aims at reclaiming parts of the Nairobi River that have been polluted and making the Nairobi river basin a climate resilient waterfront by January 2027.
The governor went on further to assure the public that markets within Nairobi were among the areas of concern for the county government by referring to the reconstruction work being carried out in Gikomba Market.
However, Nairobi County is yet to disclose how much the relocation programme will cost or where the affected Grogan mechanics and traders will be temporarily or permanently relocated before the new garage is completed.
