State-owned Kenya Railway Corporation has partnered with the World Bank in implementing the 165-kilometer Nairobi rail expansion plan. The corporation will commence a feasibility study for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Network. Moreover, the project is under the World Bank-funded Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP) in April. The project aims to expand the rail network from its existing 35 to 53 operational stations with key transit hubs. It also aims to provide support infrastructure to encourage public transport usage.

Furthermore, the project also aims to rehabilitate some of the aging facilities and infrastructure inadequacies in the 165-km rail. The feasibility study and preparation phase for KUMIP is expected to take 24 months from April 2025. Kenya Railway’s Project team leader, John Maina, noted that the first phase will target highly trafficked areas. These include the Nairobi-Ruiru route, which will be extended to Thika Railway station. “The extension of this route will significantly ease congestion on both the rail and road networks,” he noted.