Govt Rolls Out Major Expansion of Nairobi Central Railway Station

Plans are underway to transform Nairobi Central Railway Station into a modern transport hub as the government moves to expand the facility to ease congestion and improve movement within the capital.

The expansion is part of Phase One of the Nairobi Railway City project being implemented by Kenya Railways Corporation.

According to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report, the upgraded station will feature two-level buildings, new entrances and exits, additional platforms, canopies, and access footbridges designed to improve passenger flow and safety.

Major developments are planned on the eastern side of the heritage station building, where a new entrance facility will be constructed. This building will link directly to a platform bridge providing access to all platforms.

On the western side, Kenya Railways plans to put up a smaller structure that will mainly serve passengers exiting the station, alongside the construction of a second platform bridge.

Further changes will be introduced on the southern side of the station, where a new entrance and exit will be built to mirror those on the northern side.

This design will allow passengers to access and leave the station from both the north and south of the city, regardless of the platform they use.

A key highlight of the project is the significant increase in capacity. The station will expand from the current two platforms to nine platforms, a move expected to support growing passenger numbers and accommodate new rail services.

“A key part of the station development will be increasing capacity from two platforms to nine platforms, facilitating a significant increase in passenger demand and proposed new services,” the ESIA report states.

The redevelopment will also turn the station into a multimodal transport interchange. Rail services will be integrated with Bus Rapid Transit and pedestrian networks, while areas currently used for matatu and bus parking will be converted into public parks, plazas, and recreational spaces to open up the city centre.

The assessment acknowledges that construction will bring temporary challenges, including noise, dust, traffic disruptions, and waste generation. However, these impacts are expected to be managed through mitigation measures approved by the National Environment Management Authority.

These include regular noise monitoring, proper maintenance of construction equipment, waste segregation, reduced machine idling, and long-term landscaping to enhance biodiversity.

“The proponent, Kenya Railways Corporation, proposes to regenerate and redevelop the Nairobi Central Station site into a new iconic city centre development that will improve accessibility and capacity of the railway for all passengers,” NEMA said in a gazette notice dated December 11.

Kenya Railways says the project will deliver wide-ranging economic benefits.

These include job creation during construction, increased land values, attraction of new investments, and improved business opportunities within Nairobi’s central business district, while positioning the city as a modern and globally competitive urban centre.