Since its launch 2 years ago, the multi-million Nairobi Green Park Terminus has barely served its purpose, raising questions about whether its underutilization is a policy gap or a design mishap. It can be both, but let's focus on its design, which was meant to handle 300-500 vehicles at any given time, drawn from Ngong Rd, Langata Road, Argwings Kodhek Road, Bunyala Road and Lusaka Road.
Located at the center of the fast-growing Nairobi city, the Green Park terminus was an ambitious project developed by the Nairobi metropolitan services as a flagship project to address traffic within the Nairobi CBD. The terminus aimed to improve commuter experiences, and encourage the use of public transportation as a substitute to private transportation. The project was undertaken by the Nairobi metropolitan Service (NMS) which categorized the Green Park Terminus as part of the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN), a multi-agency project that seeks to ensure a reliable and efficient transport system in the city. Sitting on a prime 5 acre piece of land, the project cost about Ksh. 180 Million, funded by the Kenyan national government as flagged off by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta in 2020 and commissioned for operations in December 2022 by Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja.
The terminus has been underutilized since its launch with only a few long distance mini-vans(matatus) parked at the terminus.
What are the hits of The GreenPark Terminus?
With Fairton Agency Limited as the main contractors and engineers for the terminus, the initial design purposed to serve as a substitute bus stop and pick up point for buses(matatus) that currently use the Railways bus terminus. Architecturally, the adoption of interesting forms, light-weight construction technology, well annotated signages, pedestrian walkways and public spaces were well executed. Additionally, the use of technology i.e. LED boards for traffic control, adverts & notice boards, and provision electric buses were good design concepts incorporated in the project, given that most termini in Nairobi are yet to embrace such technologies.
The Misses of the Green Park Terminus
The plan by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) to relocate buses(matatus) that currently terminate at Nairobi Railways to the GreenPark terminus proved to be a pipe dream after four failed test runs. The main reasons for the failure include the inconveniences of long-stretch walk for pedestrians to the CBD from the terminus and the dreaded cost of change for bus operators who had already set base within CBD with their offices up and running for decades now. The most critical integration of the terminus to Kenyatta Avenue, Uhuru Highway and Haile Selassie Avenue also lacked proper resolution in the physical planning hence the traffic snarl-up during the four test runs.
What the Future Holds for the Terminus
With the terminus facing various political heatwaves after its failure, the Nairobi city county government went mute over its fate. As the government continues to work around the fate of the ksh180 million project, private investors and SMEs have started to slowly reclaim the site with the old Lunar Park experience coming back to life. Carrousels, scooter rides, bouncy castles and other recreational ventures are the most common with most of the activities colonizing what is left of the terminus. Few unsanctioned long distance matatus operate within the terminus with the rest of the site being reduced to a den for idlers.
Dealing with traffic in cities is a major undertaking that requires proper collaboration between government, professionals in the built environment and private business operators. There is a need to plan for alternative public transportation channels and modes within the city, bridging the CBD to any termini created. Ideally, these alternatives are better established as a precursor. As part of the professionals in the built environment, we are dedicated to contributing in various ways possible towards projects that will improve the urban spaces of this nation and beyond.
Construction Insights is a section of DezynBild Consult, that brings you insights on architecture, real estate & construction and matters of public projects.
This particular piece was put together by Lameck Owesi and Raphael Muindi, through a period of detailed research.
DezynBild Consult provides professional services in Architectural Design & Construction Project Management. WhatsApp Us: +254 715 429 997 | Email us: dezynbildconsult@gmail.com or info@dezynbild.com
Image Credits: The Standard
What impact are we looking for in the future for the public(private) transport sector in terms of conjestion? Does the full exploitation of Green-Park Terminus have a significant impact as a whole?
The Greenpark would have eased traffic in the city under proper planning
Nice piece. Feasibility study and public participation was key before the planning stage of the project. What I noticed in CBD is that the long distance matatus and the short distance ones compliment each other. The different stages(matatu parkings) in CBD is a result of a demand. A shrewd business person will notice that people from western part of the country go to Langata constituency so he sets a matatu stage that compliments the long distance one that comes from western region. There's also another important but subtle and cheap service that connects the long distance and the short distance one and that is mkokotenis and trolleys. If you are carrying five heavy sacks from ushago, you can easily put on a trolley and pay 50 bob.
Probably the basic issue at first is just resistance to change, having been used to a certain way. But the ideas was a good one, there's still potential that it will pick. But for that to happen all should be involved. It may even bring order in public transport
Insightful. This project deserves another shot, with proper planning and oversight this time.
We don't know what happened to this greenpark, the plan was just a worse waste of the resources.
An awesome piece of insight
KeNHA is constructing a pedestrian underpass network around the Haile Selassie-Uhuru Highway junction in a bid to ensure pedestrian safety. As long as such measures that enhance walkability in Nairobi are employed, I don't mind a stroll to the CBD. That said, changing the terminals from CBD will always be an incredibly demanding undertaking that would require the collaboration of everyone involved. Thank you for the informative piece!
Great work
Very insightful piece.
It's a great insight, and if worked on in a proper and non corrupt way its going to save alot of issues in public transportation including the traffic congestion.
Superb! I’ve always wondered what Green Park was all about, thought it’s a failed amusement park!🤦🏾 That said, I believe at the core of this country are very brilliant and progressive ideas that need potent planning and no haste to it. It’s such insightful articles that enlightens us and expands our minds to what ought to be done. I’m still big on public participation and collaboration with members of the public as a way of fostering long term solutions.
Quite a great read Lameck. Could have been much better had the authorities swapped the Moi Avenue Primary school with the terminus. This reduces the trekking distance of pedestrians since it's at the heart of the CBD. Consequently, the students at the school would enjoy a better quite environment around Uhuru Park.
The Green Park Terminus highlights both the successes and failures of urban infrastructure projects. While it incorporates advanced design features like pedestrian walkways, public spaces, and technology integration, its poor connectivity to key city arteries and the reluctance of matatu operators to relocate have contributed to its underutilization. To fully realize its potential, better collaboration between the government, transport operators, and urban planners is essential.
A good one if implemented
Very thoughful piece
Quite isightful
Delighted on the insight I've gotten
On point
Kudos 👏🏽
Very awesome piece! Traffic congestion and major circulations (pedestrian and vehicular) within the CBD has been a harmful insect that majorly stings the public transport sector. A call to the government, urban planners and designers to be very intentional about such projects so as to come up with a Walkable City - Nairobi
Inspirational… the change we need