This archive report was first published on 21 September 2019.
The revival of Kenya's rail transit system is a welcome development for the country's economy and rural towns. The new management of Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has been working tirelessly to revive the system, which has been mired in scandals for years.
On September 5, the Cabinet approved Sh6.9 billion for the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)-linked Inland Container Depot at Naivasha. This is a significant boost for KRC, which has been struggling to recover from years of mismanagement and corruption.
Part of the funds will be used to build the infrastructure necessary for the seamless connection of the SGR to the old Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) and transition of freight at Longonot. This will enable the train to return to the border town of Malaba, bringing new life to the Rift and Western Kenya region.
President Kenyatta's gift of land to Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni in Naivasha in March is also expected to benefit KRC. Nairobi wants Kampala to ferry its goods by MGR and SGR via Malaba, and in return, Nairobi expects Kampala to build a cargo holding base in Naivasha.
Christmas will come early for the commuting residents of Ngong, as KRC will introduce a passenger service between Nairobi and Ngong in December. The service will run on the SGR to Syokimau, then switch to the MGR at the old Central Railway Station, with only one stop in Rongai.
Managing Director Philip Mainga has revealed that SGR operates between eight and 14 cargo trains from Mombasa to Nairobi daily. This is a significant achievement, as it has brought in 258 freight trains, transiting 23,522 container tonnes, and meeting KRC's founding objective of supporting Kenya's nascent industrial and agro-processing sectors.
Mr Mainga has also reported that the Madaraka passenger service, which launched in May 2017, has ferried some 3,020,889 passengers. This is a testament to the success of KRC's efforts to revive the rail transit system.
As someone who grew up near a railway station in Vihiga County, I can attest to the importance of the train in our communities. The train was central to our lives, and its return will bring new opportunities for trade, commerce, and urbanisation.
