Kenya Railways seeks industry input ahead of major Nairobi commuter rail upgrade

Nairobi Commuter Rail. (Photo: Kenya Railways)

By Mary Wambui
Tuesday, June 9, 2026

The project seeks to enhance urban mobility within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area while also strengthening land-use planning along the identified commuter corridors.

Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is seeking the private sector's input on the World Bank-backed Urban Mobility Improvement Project, which aims to modernise Nairobi’s commuter rail network through electrification, station upgrades and transit-oriented corridors along key commuter corridors.

In a notice published Tuesday, KRC said an Early Market Engagement meeting scheduled for June 24 will serve as a market sounding exercise to gather industry feedback on procurement approaches, project design, pricing trends, supply chain risks and emerging technologies before formal tenders are issued.

The meeting will be held at the Railway Training Institute, South B, Nairobi, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

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The project seeks to enhance urban mobility within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area while also strengthening land-use planning along the identified commuter corridors.

KRC added that the discussions during the engagement will be non-binding, and as such, any resulting procurement opportunities will be conducted through a competitive process in line with World Bank procurement regulations.

“Stakeholders are strongly encouraged to participate in this process and to use the meeting as an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments regarding this upcoming project procurement opportunity. The consultation will also serve as a market sounding exercise to obtain industry feedback for the preparation of the Project Procurement Strategy. The procurement of the project activities will follow the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Projects Financing (IPF) Borrowers,” the notice read in part.

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The key components of the project include: the development of the Nairobi Central Station-Thika commuter line, electrification of the Nairobi commuter railway network, acquisition of new trainsets, and transit-oriented developments around railway stations.

Other planned investments include maintenance workshops, manufacturing facilities for rail components, station access roads, construction of the Likoni Road over the Railway Bridge and the associated road approaches, development of a concrete sleeper manufacturing plant and the acquisition of maintenance rolling stock.

The Corporation will spearhead the implementation of the project activities in conjunction with other implementing agencies and county governments within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.