This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
On August 7, 2019, Kenya's Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia urged importers to use the Standard Gauge Railway for cargo transport, citing its safety and speed.
The directive, which was set to take effect from Wednesday, required all cargo not destined for Mombasa and its environs to be transported via the standard gauge railway to the inland container terminal in Nairobi for clearance.
However, the directive was met with opposition from some importers and critics, leading the government to suspend it for further consultations.
Despite the suspension, CS Macharia remains confident in the standard gauge railway, stating that it is the way to go for those transporting cargo from Mombasa destined for Nairobi and beyond.
The Kenya Ports Authority plans to construct more inland container terminals over the next three decades, with the aim of easing congestion at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot.
Speaking during the launch of the Kenya Ports Authority master plan 2018-2047, Managing Director Daniel Manduku emphasized the importance of investing in an integrated transport system, which has contributed to the tremendous growth registered by the Port of Mombasa in recent years.
