Kenya, France to collaborate on new infrastructure project

A new railway line linking Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the central business district will be built by a French cornsortium within the next two years.

The commuter railway, complemented by a Rapid Bus Transit System is expected to reduce travel time between JKIA and the city centre.

“A well- functioning urban commuter rail system and Bus Rapid Transit System in our cities and particularly here in Nairobi, will transform the lives of millions of urban dwellers as well as make Nairobi a wonderful experience for tourists and visitors,” says Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Our target is to have 500,000 urban commuters moving freely daily within the next 12 months. This number will grow to over a million commuters daily within the next five years” Uhuru adds.

The deal followed a recent state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Kenya to attend the One Planet Summit.

The French president also expressed France’s intention to deepen its partnership with Kenya beyond rail infrastructure to areas of security, health and education. Deals worth $3.39 billion were signed between the two countries during Macron’s visit.