Nairobi is planning a major transformation of its public transport system through a proposed Sh1 trillion Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) that will combine an underground railway, commuter rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
The proposed railway network will have 25 stations across four corridors, connecting the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) with Upper Hill, Westlands and several densely populated areas of Eastlands.
But what exactly is being proposed, where will the trains run, how much will the project cost and when could Nairobi residents start using it?
Here is what you need to know.
What is Nairobi’s proposed underground railway?
The underground railway is part of a wider Mass Rapid Transit System designed to provide faster and more efficient public transport across Nairobi.
Unlike a railway serving only one route, the proposed system will connect several transport corridors and integrate with existing commuter railway services and the planned BRT network.
The underground section will mainly serve the CBD before connecting with the existing railway network towards Eastlands.
The government hopes the system will reduce the number of private vehicles and public transport vehicles competing for space on Nairobi’s increasingly congested roads.
How many stations will there be?
The proposed network will have 25 stations spread across four main corridors.
1. Underground CBD corridor
The underground section will cover approximately 10 kilometres and have 10 stations.
The proposed stations are:
- Upper Hill
- Kenyatta National Hospital
- Parliament
- City Hall
- Kenyatta Avenue
- Railways/Muthurwa
- University Way
- Museum Hill
- Westlands
- Sarit Centre
This corridor would connect major employment, commercial, government, education and healthcare centres.
2. Eastlands main trunk
The main Eastlands corridor will cover about 7 kilometres.
It will have four stations:
- Railways/Muthurwa
- Jericho
- Buruburu
- Donholm
The route would provide a connection between the CBD and some of the city’s densely populated eastern neighbourhoods.
3. Eastlands branch network
The project also proposes three branches serving additional parts of Eastlands.
Branch 1 will cover approximately five kilometres and serve:
- Donholm
- Umoja
- Kayole
- Komarock
Branch 2 will connect:
- Muthurwa
- Eastleigh
- Kariobangi
- Dandora
Branch 3 will cover approximately three kilometres and serve:
- Donholm
- Savannah
- Fedha
- Embakasi
The different corridors are expected to operate as an interconnected network rather than isolated railway lines.
Why does Nairobi need an underground railway?
Traffic congestion remains one of Nairobi’s biggest transport challenges.
Thousands of commuters travel into and out of the CBD every day, placing enormous pressure on roads and existing public transport systems.
The proposed MRTS is intended to shift some of this demand from roads to rail.
An underground railway could also allow trains to pass through the CBD without competing with road traffic or requiring large amounts of surface space for new railway infrastructure.
The system is also being designed to connect with BRT and commuter rail services, allowing passengers to switch between different modes of transport.
How much will the project cost?
The first phase is estimated to cost approximately Sh1 trillion, equivalent to about US$7.78 billion.
The proposed allocation includes:
| Component | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Civil works | Sh414 billion |
| Stations | Sh271 billion |
| Railway systems | Sh155 billion |
| Rolling stock | Sh116 billion |
| Other utilities | Sh49 billion |
The figures are estimates and could change as the project moves through feasibility studies, design and procurement.
Where will the money come from?
The government does not plan to rely on a single source of funding.
The proposed financing model includes:
- Public-private partnerships (PPPs)
- National government funding
- Nairobi County government funding
- Commercial banks
- Private equity
- Climate finance
- Pension funds
- Other long-term investors
The ability to secure financing will be one of the major factors determining whether the project progresses according to the proposed timeline.
When will construction begin?
The government plans to undertake a feasibility study during 2026.
If the necessary studies, financing and approvals are completed, construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2028.
Commercial operations are currently targeted for January 2034.
This means the proposed railway is not an immediate solution to Nairobi’s traffic problems. If the current timeline is maintained, residents would have to wait several years before the system becomes operational.
What has President Ruto said about the project?
President William Ruto has described the proposed mass rapid transport system as a response to Nairobi’s growing traffic congestion.
Presenting the project on July 31, Ruto said the system would provide a multimodal transport network combining BRT and commuter rail.
“Our plan for the Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transport system is the perfect solution to the traffic congestion and gridlock that face our capital city and the environs,” Ruto said.
He said the project would be the beginning of a broader transport system designed to move millions of Nairobi residents.
“This will be the beginning of the establishment of a multi-modal transport system, featuring bus rapid transit and commuter rail,” he said.
What will happen to existing railway services?
The proposed system is intended to integrate with existing commuter rail services, rather than operate completely separately.
Railways/Muthurwa is particularly important because it appears in both the underground CBD corridor and the Eastlands network.
This could allow commuters travelling from Eastlands to connect to the CBD and other parts of Nairobi through a wider integrated railway system.
The system is also expected to connect with the planned BRT network, giving passengers more options for completing their journeys.
Will the railway end Nairobi’s traffic problem?
Not necessarily.
The railway could provide an alternative to road transport and potentially reduce the number of vehicles entering congested areas.
However, its impact will depend on several factors, including affordable fares, reliability, frequency of trains, station accessibility and how effectively the railway connects with buses, matatus, BRT and other forms of transport.
The success of the project will therefore depend not only on building the railway but also on creating a transport system that makes it convenient for commuters to leave their cars and other road-based transport.
What happens next?
The project is still at the planning and development stage.
The government is expected to undertake feasibility studies before moving to detailed design, financing arrangements, procurement and construction.
The proposed timeline points to construction beginning in the second half of 2028, with commercial operations targeted for January 2034.
For Nairobi residents, the biggest questions will now be whether the government can secure the enormous financing required, complete the necessary studies and approvals, and deliver the project within the proposed cost and timeline.
If implemented as planned, the Sh1 trillion MRTS could fundamentally change how Nairobi residents move around the capital — shifting the city’s transport system from one dominated by roads to a more integrated network of rail, underground transport and BRT.
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