Nairobi is set to host, for the first time, a mega UN-Habitat from 27-31 May 2019.
The UN-Habitat Assembly which will bring together over 2000 delegates from 193 member states at the UN-Gigiri Nairobi is expected to adopt global norms and policies that will guide how cities and communities are planned, managed and governed.
The theme of this year’s assembly is “Innovation for a Better Quality of life in Cities and communities-accelerated implementation of the new urban agenda towards achievement of the sustainable development goals”.
This even as statistics indicate that 34 percent of Kenyan population live in urban areas with a 5 per cent growth per annum.
The UN-habitat further indicates that 6.4 million Kenyans live in urban slums with the year 2050 projected as a period in which 50% Kenyans will be living in the urban areas.
Elsewhere, a photo of one of the buses to be used in Nairobi’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service has emerged.
The image of the high-capacity bus imported by the government from South Africa has been obtained by The Star.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia says that the first batch of the vehicles has already arrived in the country.
The large buses are painted yellow and dark blue and are written NaMATA on the side.
Here's a photo by me of a Beijing Bus, part of the BRT System. It's rather progressive, from the physical design to the use of electric power. I strongly believe that BRT Systems if well managed can be instrumental in decongesting Nairobi as well as other African cities. pic.twitter.com/l7oM8IpEAY
— Dennis Nyaga (@DennoNyaga) May 9, 2019
The publication says NaMATA stands for Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
“The first batch was 32 buses. What we are now trying to do is fast track the construction of stations and other supporting infrastructure so that as the buses come, we shall have proper infrastructure,” says CS Macharia.
“We are just contracting and it will be done very quickly… maybe one or two months to make sure we have proper support infrastructure.”
Macharia notes that the government has already set aside Sh1.2 billion for setting up of BRT supporting infrastructure.
The rollout of the BRT system is part of the government’s bid to reduce traffic congestion in the city and revamp the capital’s public transport system.
