from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – KENYA’S securing of a US$185 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China (EximBank) for the artificial intelligence-powered Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is a timely boost.
This comes after the United States recently halted funding for a related project to ease traffic congestion in Nairobi, the East African country’s capital.
The National Treasury and Economic Planning has sealed the concessional loan agreement EximBankto finance ITS, an initiative by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to establish a traffic management system in the capital city.
At the signing ceremony late Wednesday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, hailed the financial breakthrough, describing the ITS as a critical pillar of Kenya’s integrated transport management framework, designed to modernise mobility across key transport corridors.
Once fully operational, ITS is to support data-driven enforcement of transport regulations and strengthen the digital backbone for smart-city infrastructure.
This would eventually improve traffic coordination, reduce congestion, enhance road safety through real-time surveillance and shorten travel times.
“These efficiencies will translate into economic savings, increased productivity, and a better experience for millions of road users,” Mbadi said.
At the ceremony in Nairobi, Chen Huaiyu, Chairman of EximBank, reaffirmed commitment to deepening cooperation with Kenya.
“The ITS project will further strengthen bilateral cooperation and contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s long-term development agenda,” he said.
It was reported recently the US had stopped funding Kenya’s Geographic Information System (GIS) platform.
Kenya is among the countries with the worst traffic in Africa and Nairobi one of the most congested in the continent.
– CAJ News