Advancing Flood-Resilient and Transit-Oriented Development Along the Nairobi Commuter Rail
CDR International, leading a consortium of DASUDA partners—VE-R, Move Mobility, and Rebel—is finalizing Activity 3 and 4 in the ongoing Flood Risk Management Study for the Nairobi Commuter Rail. This Study is commissioned under the Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project (KUMIP) and supported by the World Bank and Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).
This project addresses two critical challenges for Nairobi’s rapidly expanding urban population: flooding and mobility issues. The Nairobi Commuter Rail (NCR) system serves as a vital public transport backbone connecting key residential areas like Ruiru, Syokimau, Embakasi, and Kikuyu to the city centre. However, frequent service disruptions due to flooding threaten the reliability of this essential infrastructure—undermining economic productivity and public confidence in rail as a viable alternative to road transport.
After carrying out a detailed flood risk assessment of the rail infrastructure and surrounding areas, Activities 3 and 4 focus on delivering strategic, pre-feasibility-level solutions to strengthen the commuter rail system’s flood resilience and support sustainable urban development in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA).
- Activity 3 has resulted in a comprehensive Flood Risk Management Plan for the entire commuter rail system. The plan provides prioritized recommendations—both structural and non-structural—to guide future investments in flood mitigation. These measures aim to reduce vulnerabilities, improve asset durability, and ensure continuity of operations during extreme weather events.
- Activity 4 applies these insights to three critical commuter hubs along the Thika Line—Githurai, Mwiki, and Kariobangi South. This phase introduces urban flood mitigation strategies that integrate with Transit-Oriented Development (ToD) principles. Draft guidelines developed for these stations provide a framework for scaling DRM-informed urban planning to other rail nodes across Nairobi.
Importantly, the plans for both activities were developed in close collaboration with national and local stakeholders. During a series of dedicated engagement workshops, stakeholders identified and evaluated potential interventions using a multi-criteria analysis approach—ensuring that proposed solutions reflect local priorities, feasibility, and long-term impact.
Using open data, government inputs, and a high-resolution terrain model, the study identifies strategic interventions that align with Kenya’s goals for resilient infrastructure and inclusive mobility. These outputs will inform future design and investment decisions, ensuring that flood risk is not displaced but responsibly managed.
By addressing the intersection of flood resilience, mobility, and urban planning, this project contributes meaningfully to Nairobi’s long-term sustainability, economic performance, and quality of life.
