The Institutional Support to the Kenyan Transport Sector (ISKTS) is a European Union (EU) funded program to the transport sector in Kenya, with the overall objective of poverty reduction and accelerated and inclusive economic growth through a more sustainable and efficient transport sector. The program objectives are improvement of sector governance, planning, legal and regulatory framework; improvement in technical skills in priority areas; and finally, successful implementation of transport modelling and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. ISKTS supports three institutions in the transport sector: the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Public Works, the Nairobi City County and NaMATA. For NaMATA, this support is intended to result in two outcomes:

·       A technically capacitated NaMATA; and

·       Implementation of Bus Rapid Transit.

The PSC session, held on 10th November 2022 reported on activities and outputs of support for all three institutions that are the subject of the ISKTS program. For NaMATA specifically, the session provided feedback on a number of important milestones achieved. Among them was the recent recruitment drive that has resulted in the appointment of over 40 highly capable technical and administrative permanent staff, to populate the transport authority’s organogram. This means that more than ever, NaMATA is now capable of delivering on its mandate, to develop a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. Other important milestones highlighted in the session included the recent successful technical sessions between NaMATA and, the European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to further the implementation of Clean BRT Line 3, and the successful participation of NaMATA in the Africities Summit from 17th to 21st May 2022 in Kisumu.

There was lively and useful discussion during the session, with positive endorsement of the progress the ISKTS has achieved so far. However, it was acknowledged much more needs to be done, to ensure that the organisation implements the MRTS. The European Union confirmed its commitment, through the ISKTS to continued support for the sector and NaMATA towards achieving this goal.

In attendance was the overall Project Manager for the ISKTS from the Ministry, Eng. James Kung’u, NaMATA representatives including Deputy Dir. Policy & Strategy Dominic Omboto, and Kelvin Ndangili Senior Officer Infrastructure Development. The European Union delegation in Kenya was represented by Martin Anderssen and Juliet Chelimo. Others in attendance were  representatives from the State Department of Roads, State Department of Housing and Urban Development, Engineering Board of Kenya, KURA, Kenya Railways Corporation, KIHBIT and the Nairobi City County. NTU International, the official implementing partners of the ISKTS were represented by Lars Bentzen, Nikolay Chavov, Charles Kaira, Michael Kihato, Sion Howarth and Elizabeth Mwangi.