Sakaja announces return of BRT after talks with South Korea

This followed a courtesy call by the Ambassador of Korea to Kenya Kang Hyung-shik, who reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to constructing the BRT Line 5 that will link Nairobi’s City Centre to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Once complete, the project will reduce traffic congestion along major routes such as Mombasa Road, lower daily transport costs, create jobs during both construction and operation, and boost tourism through easier airport access. 

Further, Ambassador Kang announced that South Korea is set to establish a permanent mission in Nairobi's Lavington area, marking deeper strategic ties between the two nations. 

"The growing cooperation between Nairobi and Seoul builds on a relationship that dates back to 1964, when South Korea opened its first Sub-Saharan diplomatic mission in the Kenyan capital," the statement read in part. 

"More than six decades later, Korea is preparing to establish a permanent mission in Nairobi’s Lavington area a symbolic and strategic step that mirrors the deepening infrastructure collaboration now shaping the city’s transport future."

The project, aimed to ease traffic congestion within the Nairobi metropolitan, comprised 5 BRT corridors. 

The first line (Ndovu) project involved linking Limuru - Kangemi - CBD - Imara Daima - Athi River - Kitengela. The Second line (Simba) included Rongai - Bomas - CBD - Ruiru - Thika - Kenol.

Line 3 (Chui) comprised Tala - Njiru - Dandora - CBD - Showground - Ngong. Line 4 (Kifaru) project links Mama Lucy Hospital - Donholm - CBD - T Mall - Bomas - Karen - Kikuyu. 

Primarily, Line 5 will utilise 30 high-capacity buses and transport an average of 4,200 passengers per hour per direction during peak hours. 

Since 2018, the project has faced funding delays. However, it received a financial boost through partnerships with the European Investment Bank, the European Union, and the French Development Agency.

In 2024, the government also secured a Ksh.7.6 billion loan from the Korean Export-Import Bank to kick-start the construction of the Line 5 corridor, with the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, KURA, inviting tenders for its commencement.