Overview:

The Nairobi Railway City is an iconic multi-modal urban development to be situated within the 200-acre prime property that currently serves as the Nairobi Railway Station. The project is one of the priority undertakings embodied under the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Plan (NIUPLAN) as a strategy for the expansion of Nairobi’s Central Business District. The project’s concept arose from growing concerns regarding the rapid growth of Nairobi City thus the need to start thinking beyond city boundaries.

The Kenya Railways (KR), in conjunction with the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing & Urban Development (MoTIH&UD), are charged with developing the Nairobi Railway City’s master plan that is set to effectively guide the project through to its completion.

Proposed Location:

The proposed primary planning area is situated within the site containing the Nairobi Central Railway Station, the marshalling yard, the Kenya Railways Pension Scheme Land (Landimawe Estate), the locomotive and wagons workshops and the section of Nairobi’s Industrial Area that borders the southern boundary of the Nairobi Railway Station.

The strategic location of the Nairobi Station area also positions it perfectly to be an iconic nerve centre for the Nairobi Multimodal Transport System with a world class new central station incorporating mixed use commercial developments, hotels and intermodal facilities.

Projected benefits:

The proposed linkages across the existing rail tracks will increase access to the current CBD and promote the continuation of the city fabric towards the south. This network could be expanded to the industrial area on the southern side which, along with land use upgrading of the industrial area, is essential to allow for the CBD peripheral development for commercial / institutional activities.

Such a development would also provide equilibrium between social benefits (housing, public realm and community facilities) for the city and economic returns for the operation. Furthermore, the Nairobi Railway City will bring into play a fresh alternative with regard to office/commercial/residential space thus reducing pressure on general prices of such premises within the Central Business District.

Overall, the Nairobi Railway City is anticipated to reinforce Nairobi’s symbolic status as the leading Capital City within East Africa, a standing that will boost the capital’s and the country’s image and economic status.