Nairobi approves first underground railway as city moves ahead with mass transit plans Nairobi County has approved the implementation framework for the first phase of the Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit System (NMRTS), paving the way for the capital’s first underground railway line beneath the Central Business District (CBD). The decision was made during the 90th County Executive Committee meeting chaired by Governor Johnson Sakaja, marking a major milestone in Nairobi’s long-term strategy to modernise public transport and ease chronic traffic congestion. The first phase of the project will comprise an underground rail corridor through the CBD linked to the Eastlands Line, connecting one of the city’s busiest commuter catchment areas with the commercial centre. The underground section will also incorporate integrated transit hubs, allowing seamless connections between rail services, pedestrian facilities and non-motorised transport. According to the county government, the project is designed to reduce travel times, lower transport costs, ease road congestion and support cleaner urban mobility by encouraging a shift from private vehicles and road-based public transport to high-capacity rail. Governor Sakaja said the approval represents a transition from planning to implementation following technical collaboration between Nairobi County and the Executive Office of the President. He added that planning is already underway for Phase II, which proposes extending the network to Westlands, Ngong Road and Lang’ata, improving connectivity for commuters travelling from Ngong, Ongata Rongai and Nairobi’s western suburbs. Beyond transport, the county expects the project to stimulate economic activity, create employment during construction and operation, and contribute to lower carbon emissions through a more sustainable urban transport system. The approval comes alongside other major transport initiatives, including the Nairobi Railway City redevelopment, commuter rail modernisation and the planned expansion of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, reflecting a broader strategy to build an integrated, multimodal transport network capable of supporting Nairobi’s growing population. The county has indicated that public participation and stakeholder consultations will precede groundbreaking, with detailed engineering, financing and implementation arrangements expected to determine the project’s timeline. If realised, the underground railway would mark a historic milestone for Kenya, becoming the country’s first metro-style underground rail system and significantly reshaping mobility within the capital. #Nairobi #Transport #MassTransit #Railway #Infrastructure #UrbanDevelopment #NMRTS #Kenya #GenoInsights