President William Ruto on Tuesday, September 19, received Ksh8.7 billion to buy electric buses to operate on the bus rapid transit (BRT) line 2 to ease traffic congestion within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US-based firm, signed an agreement with President Ruto on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
MCC threshold programs are grants that allow partner countries to demonstrate their commitment to democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their people through targeted policy reforms and capacity-building programs. In doing so, partner countries focus resources and support to tackle constraints to economic growth.
“Today’s signing ceremony marks an exciting milestone in the growing partnership between Kenya and the United States,” Ruto stated.
Ruto added that reducing connectivity was vital to addressing economic challenges in Nairobi.
MCC and the government of Kenya jointly designed the Kenya threshold program to address challenges that limit connectivity in urban areas.
The program is focused on Nairobi, where it aims to strengthen institutions and support improvements in long-term planning for integrated, accessible, and safer transportation and land use.
Among its features, the program will focus on the transportation needs of pedestrians and develop more visible transportation options for women. The program will also provide financing support for the acquisition of climate-friendly buses for the emerging bus rapid transit (BRT) network.
“The Government of Kenya is committed to the activities and reforms that make up our Threshold Program, which we jointly designed with MCC,” Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u stated.
“This planned investment will strengthen our transport and land sectors and will generate benefits for the people of Nairobi, as well as for all Kenyans,” he added.
MCC CEO Alice Albright stated that the corporation had entrusted Kenya to implement the project to help reduce traffic and further improve people’s lives.
She noted that it was among the most ambitious projects undertaken by the firm.
