Govt Issues Ksh7.6 Billion Tender to Extend BRT to Outer Ring Road

The government has issued a tender worth Ksh7.6 billion for the construction of a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) line along the Outer Ring Road.

In a notice published by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) on Tuesday, September 24, the line will be developed using a loan from Korea that has already been issued to the government.

“The Government of Kenya has received a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea from the resources of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Republic of Korea in the amount of USD 59,000,000 (fifty-nine million United States dollars) toward the cost of establishment of the Bus Rapid Transit Line 5 Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract for Establishment of the Bus Rapid Transit Line 5 Project,” KURA said.

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The tender is limited to Korean firms only, and the project is expected to take 24 months to be completed starting January 2025.

The 10.5-kilometer project includes 13 BRT stations, three river bridges, two overpass bridges, and a two-lane BRT line that runs along the road.

“All road works involved in the construction of a 2-lane BRT Line, along the entire length of the Outer Ring Road in Nairobi County, of an estimated length of 10.5 km. Construction of 3 river bridges and 2 overpass bridges of approximately 1,024 m and 323 m respectively. Construction of 13 BRT stations,” KURA added.

The project will also involve the construction of new footbridges and the modification of existing footbridges, the implementation of electro-mechanical works, the construction of a drainage system along the road, street lighting, landscaping works, and the improvement of the Outer Ring Road.

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The introduction of electric vehicles to operate on the BRT line will also be a critical element of the initiative.

This comes after the parliament had allocated Ksh 3 billion in June 2024 for the completion of the remaining works on the 27 km BRT line, which runs from Ruiru to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) via the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and had stalled for 4 years. The project came to a halt after the government failed to provide additional funds to the Chinese contractor firm Stecol Corporation.

The reliance on small-capacity private vehicles and 14-seater matatus, which have been partially blamed for the worsening traffic congestion in Nairobi, is anticipated to be reduced by the capacity of a BRT bus to carry between 100 and 300 passengers.

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