- 1416 views
Planned Nairobi's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has received a major boost after Isuzu East Africa unveiled two types of high-capacity buses for the project.
The automobile company said each of the two buses will have a capacity of between 62 and 100 passengers and a speed limit of up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, Isuzu East Africa Managing Director Rita Kavashe said the buses have space for sitting and standing commuters. He said the vehicles were locally developed to meet BRT standards.
“Kenya has the capacity to manufacture these BRT buses for our cities and this should be encouraged since it will create jobs as well as enable operators easily access credit finance to fund acquisition of the buses,” she said.
Matatu Owners Association (MOA) chairman Simon Kimutai called for fast tracking of the BRT system, noting that it will guarantee Kenyans a quality and safe transport service.
“We support BRT as it includes all public service vehicles (PSVs) and must start off with segregating lanes for all PSV where private vehicle owners are barred. That will discourage private vehicle owners from using their costly vehicles leaving them at home in favour of the cheap BRT vehicles that we are ready to invest in,” he said.
The BRT system is being crafted by the Nairobi Regeneration Committee as one of the ways of dealing with traffic menace witnessed in the Kenyan capital.