President William Ruto witnessed the signing of a Ksh8.7 billion deal with the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States government agency, to finance the Bus Rapid Transit project.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 20, morning, Ruto noted that the funds will be used to acquire electric buses to operate on the BRT.
According to Ruto, the BRT will help to reduce congestion within Nairobi and neighboring counties.
Among those present during the signing were MCC Chief Executive Officer Alice Albright and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof Njuguna Ndungu.
“In New York, United States, met MCC CEO Alice Albright during the signing of the USD 60 million (Ksh 8.7 billion) Second Threshold Programme funds for the acquisition of electric buses to operate on the bus rapid transit (BRT) line 2 to ease traffic congestion within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area,” President Ruto noted.
In his statement, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the efficiency of Kenya’s public transport system.
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He added that his government is working with development partners to deploy innovative transport solutions and consequently create an attractive business environment.
Speaking during the Africa Climate Summit in early September, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen assured that the BRT line would be ready by December 2024.
Ruto meets world leaders
Additionally, Ruto met a host of world leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Among them was a delegation from the Dominican Republic who committed to supporting the UN Security mission in Haiti led by Kenya.
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Further, the head of state met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky who committed to setting up a grain hub at the port of Mombasa to boost food security in the East Africa region.
The engagements were part of Ruto’s one-week trip in the US where he is expected to attend the UNGA.
