This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
On December 14, 2019, Kenya Railways Corporation and Africa Star Operation Company clarified reports that the latter was blocking the review of their contract on running the Madaraka Express passenger and freight services.
According to the two firms, they are reviewing the contract to align it with the realities of the operations. The operations of the Madaraka Express have been smooth for three years for passengers and two years for freight.
Speaking at the Suswa Inland Container Depot, Kenya Railways acting MD Philip Mainga said that the review would lower the cost of doing business, as it would be cheaper and less time-consuming.
Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimett also spoke at the event, dismissing fears that the Phase 2A of the standard gauge railway to Naivasha was a white elephant. She said that work on the project was still in progress, with up to 70% complete.
The Sh6.9 billion Suswa ICD is intended to serve freight destined for Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo via the port of Mombasa.
