This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
On December 17, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the freight services on the Nairobi to Naivasha standard gauge railway (SGR) line, marking a significant milestone in the development of the multi-billion shilling line.
The launch of the cargo service comes after a delay in the construction of a dry port in Naivasha, which was critical in making the line viable. The SGR cargo fees have faced opposition from importers who say it is costly to ferry goods on the line compared to doing so by road.
According to Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimett, the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Suswa will serve cargo going west of Nairobi, and regional partners are upbeat about the development. The Sh6.9 billion ICD is intended to serve freight cargo destined for Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo via the Mombasa port.
Kenya Railways has recommended a cut on SGR cargo fees due to protests from importers on the current costs. The rail agency says there are plans to lower the cost of ferrying goods on SGR, which has struggled for business in the face of competition from truckers.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia announced plans to introduce direct cargo trains from Mombasa to Naivasha, taking only eight hours. From Naivasha, the cargo will be transported by road to the MGR station for onward transmission to the neighbouring countries.
