This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced plans to revamp the Kisumu railway line, a project that will start in the next two weeks. This move comes as the Head of State continues to shake up key Parliament positions, removing DP Ruto's allies from their posts.
According to Philip Mainga, the Kenya Railways managing director, the refurbishment of the rail network, which is over a century old, will begin on August 1 and take eight months to complete. This project marks a significant policy shift, as the State had earlier ruled out reviving the line.
The refurbishment of the Kisumu line will connect to the recently refurbished Sh3 billion Kisumu port, enabling the ferrying of cargo and passengers to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo via Lake Victoria.
The project will involve Kenya Railway engineers and the National Youth Service working together to refurbish the line, with the aim of reducing the upgrade cost. Initially, the plan was to tap into Chinese funding for the upgrade.
The Nanyuki Line works, which are set to be implemented in six months, have been divided into three sections to ensure a speedy conclusion. The sections include Thika – Maragua, Maragua – Karatina, and Karatina – Nanyuki.
The scope of works for the project includes site clearance, removal of encroachments, rehabilitation of the permanent way infrastructure, refurbishment of rolling stock, and leasing of locomotives for use in operations. Additionally, a railway station will be constructed at Chaka, and 250 kilometres of railway line will be built to the Vivo Energy Depot in Nanyuki.
