By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi has granted the CS for roads approval to implement the Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP), whose objective is to improve urban mobility in Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA).
According to the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen, the whole project entails a lot of work that needs to be implemented.
“Revamping Commuter Rail Service, including undertaking feasibility studies and detailed design for the entire 163km commuter rail network in Nairobi Metropolitan Area, upgrading of Thika line from Nairobi Central Station to Thika (58km) with additional railway stations; acquisition of new multiple-unit trainsets, a workshop, upgrading of selected railway stations, and provision of improved feeder bus services connecting railway stations and existing road network,” CS Murkomen wrote on X.
“It also entails construction of feeder roads and non-motorised transport infrastructure to enhance the accessibility of the commuter railway stations and adoption of Green Mobility Solution to address urban public transport carbon emission,” Hon. Murkomen stated.
The KUMIP extends to Transit-Oriented Development (ToD) along Commuter Rail at selected stations, and station area development focusing on access to railway stations and business units.
Towards this initiative, the Ministry of Roads and Transport have commenced the formulation of a National Urban Transport Policy to guide the development, management, financing, and regulation of urban transport at the National and County Government levels.
“We are also rehabilitating the commuter rail network, refurbishing coaches, constructing 20) stations (10 completed and 10 ongoing) as part of the urban transport improvement programme,” CS Murkomen added.
The CS further said that as part of the urban mobility improvement programme the Ministry of Roads and Transport have commenced the process of setting up an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) to enable seamless intermodal transportation and a single fare payment system across the transport modes.