by Ron Bernthal
In spring 2022 the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, and the UK and Kenyan governments, the final design of Nairobi’s new Central Railway Station and public spaces project was launched. The new design, which was completed by the firm Atkins UK, and handed over to Kenya Railways and the Ministry of Transport, is part of the wider Nairobi Railway City redevelopment program, endorsed by President Kenyatta and supported by the UK government.
The new design was unveiled by the UK Prime Minister’s G7 Sherpa Jonathan Black and Principal Secretary Transport, Dr Eng. Joseph Njoroge, and witnessed by UK Deputy High Commissioner Julius Court. The event was also attended by Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director General, Mohammed Badi; Director-General, National Treasury, Stanley Kamau; and Managing Director, Kenya Railways, Philip Mainga.
Proposed new Nairobi Central Railway Station design
Current Central Railway Station
“Great cities like Nairobi will need to become more climate-resilient, but also more climate-friendly, less carbon intensive to build, to travel around, and to live in,” said Jonathan Black, the UK Prime Minister’s G7 Sherpa, during the launch and handover event in late May, 2022, at the Nairobi Serena Hotel. “That is why it is such a pleasure to be here today for the launch of the design for the new central station and public realm that will sit at the heart of Nairobi Railway City.”
The station is designed to accommodate up to 30,000 passengers per hour at peak periods, and will have 64,500 square-feet of concourse space. The station will offer a new covered public space for the city with retail outlets and other amenities. It features separate entrance and exit routes to avoid conflicting flows and ensure passengers can get to and from the platforms efficiently.
“Nairobi Railway City is a flagship project in the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership which was agreed by UK Prime Minister and President Uhuru Kenyatta during the Africa Investment Summit in 2020,” said UK Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director, Julius Court. “The new project is an example of our growing strength and integration of the UK’s infrastructure offer to Kenya and the UK’s commitment to the Build Back Better World and Clean Green Initiative delivering investment into clean and green infrastructure.”
Three existing platforms will be joined by six additional passenger platforms, and four dedicated freight lines will be built. Two platform bridges will be built, with one for passengers entering the station and one for passengers exiting.
“Nairobi Railway City is a hugely important, flagship project in the heart of the city and the gateway to East Africa<” said Design Director for Atkins, Chris Crombie. “The design and vision we have created, working alongside Howard Humphreys, is a real case study example of how to create transit-orientated development with climate adaptation built in. The railway city project will support the Kenyan government in its commitment to deliver jobs, as well as green and sustainable infrastructure that drives regeneration.”
The Nairobi Railway City and Central Station Project is a flagship initiative to redevelop 425 acres of central Nairobi. Kenya’s president, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, asked British Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson, for support to take the project forward in January 2020.
The Nairobi Railway City is expected to be a world-class, climate-resilient project delivering transport capacity to sustain future growth and lay the foundations for a Green City of the Future.
