This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to launch the Nairobi-Suswa train service, marking a significant milestone in Kenya's transportation infrastructure.
As part of the launch, the President will commission the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2A, which has been a subject of controversy in recent months. In April, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia revealed that the SGR Phase 2A will actually end in Naivasha, rather than Suswa as initially planned.
According to Kenya Railways, the commuter train service will operate from Ngong to Rongai, Maai Mahiu, and Suswa. The Nairobi to Maai Mahiu service will be available only on Sundays from 9am to 1:20pm.
The launch comes after the Government made a surprise admission about the SGR Phase 2A's endpoint. The project has been a subject of controversy, with the Government facing criticism over its handling of the project.
SGR services on the Ngong-Nairobi route are available throughout the week from 5:40am to 8:50pm. Tickets for the various routes will range from Ksh.50 to Ksh.650, depending on the class of service.
President Kenyatta's visit is expected to boost the morale of the people in the affected areas, who have been eagerly waiting for the launch of the train service.
