Kidero unveils city master plan

NAIROBI, KENYA: Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero on Tuesday unveiled an integrated urban development master plan, which could change the face of the city if implemented.

The new plan proposes the development of a railway city, new bus and matatu termini and wider roads as well as construction of a new landfill site.

According to the master plan, the railway city will be part of Industrial Area and will have a flyover into the Central Business District (CBD).

And to ease traffic congestion in the northern part of the station, the plan proposes the removal of the bus and matatu termini from the proposed railway city.   

It also proposes the removal of ‘unnecessary’ functions from the CBD into the railway city to spur its development.

The master plan also proposes expansion of the existing road network within the CBD, with Waiyaki Way envisioned to have up to eight lanes.

According to the plan, once the Southern bypass is completed, heavy vehicles would be restricted from entering the CBD.

It also proposes redevelopment of Eastlands area by upgrading the existing dilapidated infrastructure.

According to the master plan, closure of the existing dumpsites, including Dandora, is identified as a priority area for solid waste management sector.

The Dandora dump site has been used for the last 30 years despite having reached its maximum capacity in 2001.

Citizen validation

Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, Kidero said that the plan will first be subjected to citizen validation to reach a consensus.

After the validation exercise, the plan will have to be approved by the county executive committee and the county assembly for the implementation process to begin.

“I will personally be in the forefront to see the legislative, legal and institutional capacity building requirements are met,” the governor said.

He asked the national government and State corporations to accord his team the necessary support to ensure the realisation and attainment of the flagship projects.