Exclusionary stakeholderism in Bus Rapid Transit Governance in Dar es Salaam

Abstract Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is promoted as an efficient and inclusive response to mobility challenges, yet its implementation reshapes access to transport and informal livelihoods. This article examines stakeholder participation and decision-making in the implementation of BRT in Dar es Salaam. Using a qualitative case study design, it draws on policy and project documents, stakeholder mapping, repeated field observations across three corridors and 84 semi-structured interviews with vendors, paratransit workers, commuters and BRT officials. The findings reveal exclusionary stakeholderism, in which formal recognition and consultation coexisted with unequal influence over decisions. Corridor improvements reduced congestion and created mobility and livelihood opportunities for some stakeholders, while others experienced displacement, restricted access to passenger flows, insecure operating spaces and uneven enforcement. These outcomes arose from interactions among BRT-specific design choices, implementation practices and wider urban governance conditions. Inclusive transport governance therefore requires ongoing, consequential participation rather than information provision alone.