Matatus exit Railways terminus to pave the way for project

Matatus that have been dropping off and picking up passengers at the Railways terminus will now be relocated to pave way for the Nairobi Railway Project.

The project aims to redevelop Kenya Railways land to ease congestion in the city and boost economic growth.

“We have reached a 100 per cent agreement with the matatus. They are ready for the relocation, and we are finalising our commitment. Initially, there were teething problems, but after several consultations, they agreed to comply,” Kenya Railways Managing Director Phillip Mainga said on Tuesday during an update on the project.

The matatus will be moved to Green Park and other designated areas depending on their routes. The National Transport and Safety Authority has already allocated spaces for the affected routes.

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The project, designed by a UK firm, will allow the addition of four more lines for freight services upon completion, at an estimated cost of Sh27.9 billion.

Mainga’s announcement comes as the county government, in collaboration with the national government—particularly the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure—is implementing a structured and phased approach to decongesting the city centre.

The county government’s strategy involves reorganising the bus route network to ensure public service vehicles operate on optimised routes, reducing unnecessary entry into the CBD.

The ongoing construction of a pedestrian tunnel at the junction of Haile Selassie Avenue and Uhuru Highway will allow people to cross safely to the other side of the highway.

“Every morning, many people alight from the commuter trains, and one of the major challenges has been crossing the road safely. This had become a serious issue. I was a pioneer of the tunnel construction through Nairobi Railway City,” he said.