Gov't Invites Bids for Construction of Kenya's First BRT Corridor on Thika Superhighway

The government has invited bids for the construction of Kenya’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system on Thika Superhighway.

The project will be implemented in two phases, with stage one covering the stretch between Clay works and Nairobi central business district while the second phase will cover Clay works to Ruiru and the section between Nairobi CBD and Kenyatta National Hospital, according to tender documents.

Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia last week told a Parliament Committee that the project will cost Sh5.8 billion.

On Thursday, Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (Namata) called for a contractor to improve the infrastructure of Thika Superhighway to accommodate a BRT corridor. The deadline for application of the tender closes on Tuesday next week with the qualified contractor expected to complete the project in 18 months.

Tender documents further state that a successful bidder will sign a fixed-price contract with Namata providing the required design and construction services. Already Namata has ordered 26 high-capacity BRT buses from South Africa to be used on Thika Superhighway as well as Ngong Road.

The government plans to put up six BRT corridors in Nairobi as part of its plan to decongest and improve the public transport system in the city. The six BRT corridors include Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Likoni, James Gichuru-Rironi, Bomas to Ruiru roads, Ngong Road to Juja, Mama Lucy to T-Mall and Balozi to Imara roads.

When complete, the Transport Ministry said the corridors will hold up to 950 high-capacity buses, thus reducing travel time and cost by up to 70 percent.