The approval was made during the 90th County Executive Committee meeting chaired by Governor Johnson Sakaja, which endorsed the implementation framework for the first phase of the Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit System (NMRTS).
The first phase will include an underground rail core through the CBD and the Eastlands Line, connecting key commuter routes in the city.
“By integrating an underground CBD core with high-capacity links to Eastlands, we will unlock Nairobi’s economic potential, lower the cost of transport and build a cleaner, greener and world-class city,” Sakaja said on Wednesday, July 22.
The project is expected to improve transport links between Eastlands and the city centre, which serves thousands of daily commuters.
According to the county government, the underground railway will help reduce traffic congestion on roads by providing a high-capacity public transport alternative.
Officials said the project will help reduce travel times, lower transport costs and support economic activity in the city.
Additionally, the initiative is also expected to create jobs during construction and operations while supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Sakaja said the approval marks a move from planning to implementation, following technical collaboration between the county and the Executive Office of the President.
The county said it will begin conducting public participation forums and engage transport stakeholders ahead of the project’s official groundbreaking.