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{
    "id": 1625857,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625857/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 202,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Davis Chirchir",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "On the second question, in order to enhance the economy of the country, mobility of the citizenry is key and the transport sector acts as a key enabler for economic growth. The land is a finite resource, therefore, the aim of the Ministry is to ensure both railway and road transport modes complement one another instead of competing with one another. Given the finite nature of the land, the Ministry aims to promote use of Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. The two modes being pursued are Commuter Rail Transport and the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT). I can talk more about that because we just came back from the United Kingdom (UK), where we were looking at the UK fund to do the Nairobi Railway City and we are specifically focusing on these corridors to be able to move people quickly out and into the city and be able to decongest. Construction cost is Kshs8.1 billion. For construction cost we have about Kshs8.26 billion. Land acquisition will cost us Kshs2.8 billion. We are acquiring land in very expensive areas through that current corridor. Land acquisition costs, including protection, relocation and existing utilities as I have indicated, they will be significantly expensive. Next question is on the status of the compulsory land acquisition. The total length of the Riruta-Ngong commuter line is approximately 13 kilometers. The ownership of the section traversed by the proposed railway line we have given a schedule attached and the length of the railway track ownership of the land and so on and so forth. I have captured there 2.4 kilometers with Kenya Railways as available corridor. We already have that. About 0.55 kilometers is with the Kenya Forestry Service and we need to acquire way leave. About 0.3 kilometers is with the Kenya National Highway overpass across the southern bypass. About 4.55 kilometers is with Kenya Urban Roads Authority that we need to be able to share jointly. One kilometer is with Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Station, which we need to acquire. About 0.9 kilometers is with the National Police Academy and which we need to then acquire. Fortunately, that is in the Government. About 2.1 kilometers is with the VET Farm Department and 1.35 kilometers is private acquisition or land acquisition process which is ongoing by the National Land Commission. Gazettement has been done, Gazette Notice 7418 Volume CXXV11 No.119 dated 5th June, 2025 for inquiry. Hon. Sifuna, you can see that is fairly current and some work is being done. Let me just hasten to add that Nairobi Railway City, having been pronounced by the leadership as a priority project to be able to recalibrate and give new life to that piece of 438 acres of land sitting with the Kenya Railways, we do not only wish to build the new railway terminals, we will update or upgrade the platforms for all these lines to come in and out of the city. We will build a public ramp for the people arriving at a capacity of 30,000 persons per hour. To a very good extent, if we did the Nairobi Railway City alone without doing all the lines that I have talked about into Kikuyu-Riruta, Ruiru-Thika-Lukenya, JKIA and Embakasi Village to be able to bring in people in and out quickly, it would not be--- So, we do not wish to do a stranded investment in upgrading the Nairobi Railway City The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}