Murkomen appoints Namata director ahead of BRT rollout
By Alvin.Mwangi, October 31, 2023Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has appointed Francis Gitau (right) as Director-General Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA) for a period of three years. Until his appointment Gitau was Secretary at the State Department of Roads.
“ We are confident that Francis Gitau will provide leadership in the development of an integrated Mass Rapid Transport System for the Nairobi Metropolitan area,” said Murkomen.
The appointment of Gitau comes at a time when works on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 4 project is expected to commence in December.
BRT Line Four also known as Kifaru line is expected to pass through Mama Lucy- Jogoo Rd- CBD – Valley Rd- Yaya Centre – Kawangware – Kikuyu- Gitaru. At the moment, Namata is in talks with AfDB, for possible financing of $700,000 million which amounts to Sh100 million towards this consultancy. The project will, however, be implemented in line with the Ministry of Roads and Transport Strategic Plan 2022-2027.
Namata was established by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration on February 9, 2017. It covers Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Murang’a counties. BRT project was allocated Sh1.2 billion in the 2022/23 budget by the National Treasury.