This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
On April 11, 2019, Raila Odinga, the AU High Representative for Infrastructure, met with the Africa Integrated High Speed Railway Project team at a workshop hosted by AUDA-NEPAD. The workshop aimed to discuss effective investment strategies for railways and roads in Africa.
Earlier in the day, Raila Odinga hosted Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya, Meles Alem, at his Capitol Hill offices. The meeting centered around Ethiopia's successful acquisition of a high-speed commuter train at a low cost, which was less expensive than the country's locomotive SGR train.
As part of his efforts to promote the development of railways in Africa, Raila Odinga will soon travel to Ethiopia to conduct a reconnaissance visit to the Addis Ababa light rail, the first of its kind in eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa. Sources indicate that he is using his AU office to facilitate the construction of a similar light rail system in Nairobi.
