Nairobi–Thika Commuter Train route to receive major upgrade

By Hellen Lunalo (KNA)

A major upgrade is underway for the 57-kilometer Nairobi Central–Thika commuter railway corridor, as Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) seeks to modernize the Nairobi Commuter Rail Network.

The upgrade targets fifteen stations for modern development through World Bank funding.

The modernized rail route will directly connect downtown Nairobi with key population and business hubs in Nairobi and Kiambu counties, providing faster commutes for residents in areas that include Dandora, Githurai, Ruiru, and Thika.

According to an Environmental and Social Impact Report of the Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP), the rail line spans fifteen stations beginning at the Nairobi Central with the initial line running through Kaloleni, Makadara, Mutindwa, Kariobangi South and Dandora.

"The project is aligned with Kenya Vision 2030, the Integrated National Transport Policy, and Kenya's climate change commitments under the Climate Change Act, 2016," the report notes.   

Moving northward, the line will connect KPCU, Maili Saba, Mwiki, Githurai, Kahawa West, Kenyatta University, Ruiru, and Juja's Kalimoni area, before ending at the Thika terminal.

Currently, eight stations along the corridor are active i.e Nairobi Central, Makadara, Dandora, Mwiki, Githurai, Kahawa West, Ruiru, and Thika.

Four additional existing stations Kaloleni, Mutindwa, Kariobangi South, and Kenyatta University are currently non-operational, but have been earmarked for revitalization.

According to the report, the project will introduce three new stations along the route at KPCU, Maili Saba, and Kalimoni (Juja), bringing the total station count to fifteen.

Key infrastructure works will include track repairs, modernized station designs, and major safety and accessibility enhancements for daily commuters.

Non-motorized transport forms are core part of the upgrade with plans to build access roads, footpaths, bike lanes, and street lighting within one kilometer of every station.  This infrastructure is designed to give nearby residents safer car-free access to rail services.

"Improved connectivity will facilitate easier movement of passengers between different transport systems, thereby reducing travel time, improving convenience, and increasing the overall efficiency of the public transport network," the report indicates.

According to the  report, Kenya Railways is also building a major maintenance hub at Makadara Railway Station near the Kenya Pipeline Company Headquarters.

The facility will serve as a central depot to repair, service, and overhaul locomotives, passenger cars, and freight wagons.

The project comes after the World Bank committed USD500 million (Sh65 billion) earlier this year to transform the 57-kilometre Nairobi–Thika commuter rail corridor into a modern transit system.

Once complete, the Nairobi–Thika commuter rail upgrade will reduce travel time, ease severe traffic congestion along the busy Thika Superhighway and unlock new economic potential across Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, the report indicates.

By replacing bumper to bumper commutes with a reliable modern rail alternative, the project marks a pivotal milestone in transforming Kenya’s urban transit landscape.