Four Reasons Why Nairobi’s BRT Project has failed before it Started
1.BRT infrastructure is yet to take shape
It is now mid-June and there is no tangible progress on building out the necessary infrastructure needed for BRT to be a success. There are no ticketing offices, no special bus stops and no dedicated lane retrofits on existing roads that are intended for the pilot phase of the initial BRT implementation, No infrastructure meant to support BRT is being put in place, the painting of the red line on certain roads with BRT initials is not practical and no further action has been taken yet to prepare for the BRT buses arriving soon(June) from South Africa.
2.No BRT Public Awareness Initiatives happening
Apart from the discussions on national tv stations and other secluded forums, there is no ongoing initiative to raise awareness, educate or enlighten the public on BRT.There has been no Expo, no public participation forum, no BRT documentaries shown locally to show Nairobians how the BRT works in other cities regionally and around the world.
3.Procurement of BRT Buses
This has already failed the test.Instead of our National and County Governments engaging existing local manufacturers of Buses to work out a way to manufacture and retrofit as well as build/maintain BRT buses that meet the set criteria/standards, the Governments have resorted to importing a few buses from south Africa at a very high cost. This is in light of Dar Es Salaam’s BRT opting to engage a Kenyan bus manufacturer to build buses for their BRT project. The procurement of BRT buses negates the intentions of one of the “Big Four” Agenda of the current government to promote local manufacturing and creating jobs.
4.NYS management of the BRT implementation plan
The BRT buses to be procured are to be handed over to NYS (National Youth Service) to manage a pilot phase of the BRT implementation along certain routes. This is already a failure, there is already a lot of public anger over the management of NYS considering the current scandals afflicting it therefore Nairobians have no faith in NYS properly managing any public transportation plan. This plan also alienates the key stakeholders in Nairobi’s public transport scene i.e. the public bus companies like Double M, KBS, City shuttle and City Hoppa as well as the existing matatu operators i.e. MSI operators and Metro trans and the 16-seater matatu SACCOs.These are the industry players who have carried commuters in this city for decades and know how to manage all this. Instead of the Govt forming a public private partnership company to manage the BRT with these stakeholders having equity and voting rights as well as a say in it they decided it was best for NYS to manage it.
Note:
In truth, as an outsider, an ordinary Kenyan affected by traffic congestion in this city on a daily basis as I commute from home to work, work to school and school back home. I am sickened by the inaction of our county and national government on this issue. My belief is that the wrong implementation path for decongesting the city through various methods and means is being done haphazardly, without communication, coordination and by the wrong actors and without involving the right stakeholders with an outline of delivering change in the next 4/5 years. Irregardless of opinions on this matter, I remain hopeful that a lot can change before the next national and county elections.
Also decongesting this city is going to take more than just BRT and building new roads as well as expanding existing roads, a light rail plan needs to be implemented within the same timeline in line with existing plans, the National and County Governments need to also revise their policies to discourage personal vehicle use and give incentives/subsidies for public transport to flourish. There needs to be a plan to formalize and streamline public service vehicle operators to ensure quality standards are upheld while delivering value to all stakeholders.
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