Top international infrastructure companies are competing for a Sh24 billion commuter rail improvement project in Nairobi.

The project has attracted tenders from 17 companies which include the likes of Hyundai, Samsung and POSCO from Korea. Bids from Chinese and European companies have come in to lay the railway.

Tenders have also been submitted by South African companies including Aveng Grinaker and Basil Read.

With all of the above mentioned bids, it proves that the project has truly attracted global attention.

“The level of response and interest and the quality of firms and consortia that responded to the prequalification phase is high,” said Gad Cohen, a partner with eleQtra, the manager of InfraCo Africa, which is developing the Nairobi Commuter Project jointly with Kenya Railways.

The partners in July advertised a tender for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the railway line, construction of new stations, maintenance and fuel depots, and procurement of new rolling stock.

The Sh24 billion commuter rail project has been divided into four phases, connecting the Central Business District (CBD) to Syokimau, Ngong, Kiserian Kikuyu and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.