Principal Secretary for
Interior Raymond Omollo has said the Riruta – Ngong commuter rail will ferry
10,000 passengers daily, even as it is set to cut on fare.
In a statement, Omollo stated
that the Commuter Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) will ease Nairobi’s notorious
traffic congestion and offer an affordable, efficient alternative for thousands
of daily commuters.
“The line is expected to ferry
approximately 10,000 passengers daily, significantly reducing peak-hour
commuting time from nearly two hours to just 30 minutes,” Omollo said.
“It will further slash
transport costs for commuters by up to 50 percent, easing the financial burden
on households that rely on daily travel within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region.”
The railway line will branch
off from the existing MGR at Riruta, near Lenana School, and run through four
key stations including Riruta, Karen, Bulbul and Ngong.
The PS observed that a key
feature in the project is the three-kilometre bridge stretching from the
Southern Bypass to Karen Shopping Centre, designed to streamline connectivity
and improve commuter safety.
The railroad was commission by
President William Ruto in December 2023, in line with his administration’s
commitment to prioritise strategic investments in transport infrastructure as a
key driver of economic growth and urban mobility.
The project is set to be
completed within 18 months.
Omollo noted that in addition
to improving urban mobility, the project has already created job opportunities,
contributing to livelihoods and boosting the local economy.
“The railroad is a critical
component of Nairobi’s Transport Masterplan and aligns with the broader Vision
2030 agenda to modernize Kenya’s infrastructure,” he added.
Omollo revealed that in the
future, the Riruta-Ngong line will be extended further to Kiserian and Ongata
Rongai.
This will be aimed at
enhancing regional connectivity and supporting the movement of people across
Nairobi’s expanding urban corridor.