This Metros Kenya guide explains the five official Nairobi BRT corridors, the destinations they will serve and the implementation status of each line.
Regular passenger operations have not yet been launched across the complete BRT network. Commuters should not confuse proposed BRT services with ordinary buses and matatus currently operating along the same roads.
Quick Navigation — Nairobi BRT Lines
Official BRT corridors: Line 1 Ndovu | Line 2 Simba | Line 3 Chui | Line 4 Kifaru | Line 5 Nyati | Ngong Road Bus Pilot
Nairobi BRT Line 1 — Ndovu
Proposed route: Limuru → Kangemi → Nairobi CBD → Imara Daima → Athi River → Kitengela.
BRT Line 1, known as the Ndovu Line, is intended to connect Limuru and western Nairobi with the CBD before continuing southeast towards Imara Daima, Athi River and Kitengela.
Main areas along BRT Line 1
- Limuru
- Kikuyu and adjoining western metropolitan areas
- Kangemi
- Westlands
- Nairobi CBD
- Mombasa Road
- Imara Daima
- Mlolongo
- Athi River
- Kitengela
The corridor is expected to run broadly parallel to the Nairobi Expressway and serve commuters travelling along Waiyaki Way and Mombasa Road.
Preliminary planning has been undertaken, but a complete operational timetable has not been announced.
Nairobi BRT Line 2 — Simba
Proposed route: Ongata Rongai → Bomas → Nairobi CBD → Ruiru → Thika → Kenol.
BRT Line 2, known as the Simba Line, is intended to connect the southern Nairobi metropolitan area with Nairobi CBD, Thika Road and towns north of the city.
Main areas along BRT Line 2
- Ongata Rongai
- Bomas of Kenya
- Lang’ata Road
- Kenyatta National Hospital
- Nairobi CBD
- Thika Road
- Kasarani
- Githurai
- Ruiru
- Juja
- Thika
- Kenol
The principal section under development follows the Thika Road corridor between the Kenyatta National Hospital area and Ruiru.
BRT infrastructure has been incorporated along sections of Thika Superhighway, but full passenger operations have not yet commenced.
Nairobi BRT Line 3 — Chui
Proposed route: Tala → Njiru → Dandora → Nairobi CBD → Showground → Ngong.
BRT Line 3, known as the Chui Line, is intended to connect eastern Nairobi and parts of Machakos County with Nairobi CBD before continuing towards Ngong.
Main areas along BRT Line 3
- Tala
- Kangundo Road
- Njiru
- Dandora
- Nairobi CBD
- Kenyatta National Hospital
- Nairobi Showground
- Ngong Road
- Ngong Town
The corridor is divided into three principal phases.
BRT Line 3 Phase I
Proposed route: Dandora → Nairobi CBD → Kenyatta National Hospital.
Phase I covers approximately 13 kilometres and is planned as a closed BRT system with dedicated buses and controlled stations.
The project design proposes approximately 14 stations and a fleet of electric buses.
BRT Line 3 Phase II
Proposed route: Kenyatta National Hospital → Ngong.
This phase would extend the service through the Ngong Road corridor towards Ngong Town.
BRT Line 3 Phase III
Proposed route: Dandora → Njiru → Tala.
This phase would extend the eastern section beyond Dandora through Njiru and the Kangundo Road corridor towards Tala.
Nairobi BRT Line 4 — Kifaru
Proposed route: Mama Lucy Hospital → Donholm → Nairobi CBD → T-Mall → Bomas → Karen → Kikuyu.
BRT Line 4, known as the Kifaru Line, is intended to connect eastern Nairobi with the CBD before continuing through Nairobi West, Lang’ata, Karen and Kikuyu.
Main areas along BRT Line 4
- Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital
- Umoja and adjoining Eastlands areas
- Donholm
- Jogoo Road
- Nairobi CBD
- Nairobi West
- T-Mall
- Bomas of Kenya
- Karen
- Kikuyu
The line is being developed in eastern and western sections.
BRT Line 4 Eastern Section
Proposed route: Mama Lucy Hospital → Donholm → Nairobi CBD.
The eastern section is intended to improve public transport between Eastlands and central Nairobi.
Detailed design work for this part of the corridor is being reviewed and updated.
BRT Line 4 Western Section
Proposed route: Nairobi CBD → T-Mall → Bomas → Karen → Kikuyu.
The western section would connect Nairobi CBD with Lang’ata Road, Karen and Kikuyu.
Planning and feasibility work is continuing before construction and passenger operations can begin.
Nairobi BRT Line 5 — Nyati
Proposed route: Ridgeways → Balozi → Imara Daima.
BRT Line 5, known as the Nyati Line, is intended to use the Outer Ring Road corridor to connect Thika Road with Mombasa Road.
Main areas along BRT Line 5
- Ridgeways
- Thika Road and the GSU area
- Allsops
- Kariobangi
- Dandora
- Umoja
- Donholm
- Balozi
- Taj Mall
- Imara Daima
- Mombasa Road
The line will run along one of eastern Nairobi’s busiest public transport corridors.
BRT Line 5 is designed to use dedicated lanes, organised stations and high-capacity buses. The planned initial fleet includes approximately 30 high-capacity buses.
The system is expected to carry up to approximately 4,200 passengers per hour in each direction during peak periods.
Construction and related Outer Ring Road improvements may cause temporary diversions, lane restrictions and traffic delays before the BRT system becomes operational.
Ngong Road Route 111 Public Bus Pilot
Pilot route: Nairobi CBD ↔ Ngong Town.
Via: Kenyatta National Hospital, Adams Arcade, Junction, Karen connections and Ngong Road.
The Ngong Road Route 111 Pilot is intended to test improvements in organised public bus operations, passenger information, service reliability, safety and comfort.
The pilot is being implemented by the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Route 111 is not one of the five official BRT lines. However, lessons from the pilot may influence the planning and management of future organised bus and BRT services.
How Nairobi BRT Will Work
The Nairobi BRT system is intended to provide public transport services with features including:
- Dedicated bus lanes
- High-capacity buses
- Clearly designated stations
- Organised boarding and alighting
- Predictable stopping patterns
- Passenger information systems
- Integrated fare collection
- Connections with feeder buses and matatus
- Connections with Nairobi Commuter Rail
- Safer pedestrian access to stations
- Reduced travel times along congested corridors
Matatus and ordinary buses may continue serving surrounding neighbourhoods as feeder services, while high-capacity BRT buses operate along the principal corridors.
Nairobi BRT Fares
Official passenger fares for the complete BRT network have not yet been announced.
Passengers should not rely on unofficial fare estimates circulating online. Metros Kenya will update this guide when the responsible transport authorities publish confirmed fares and payment arrangements.
The government is developing an integrated automated fare-collection system intended to support commuter rail, BRT, buses and other public transport services.
Nairobi BRT Stations
Final station names and stopping arrangements have not been published for every BRT corridor.
Individual Metros Kenya articles will provide detailed station guides when the responsible authorities officially confirm:
- Station names
- Station locations
- Boarding directions
- Opening dates
- Operating hours
- Fares
- Feeder routes
- Connections with matatus and trains
Important Information for BRT Passengers
The five BRT corridors are at different stages of planning, design, procurement and construction. The appearance of a corridor in this guide does not mean regular BRT passenger services are already operating.
Commuters should continue using currently available matatus, buses and trains until official passenger-service launch dates are announced.
Construction timelines and route designs may change because of funding, procurement, engineering, land and policy considerations.
Metros Kenya will update this BRT guide as stations are completed, buses are deployed and official passenger operations begin.
