Kenya Allocates Funds for Rail Projects

Railway-technology.com
June 14, 2001

The Kenyan Government has earmarked KES3.25bn ($36.6m) to start construction of a standard gauge railway connecting Mombasa and Malaba in western Kenya with a branch to Kisumu.

The project is expected to speed up transportation of goods from the port of Mombasa to western Kenya by four hours and reduce transportation costs.

The Kenyan Government is also negotiating with donors and investors to fund the remaining cost of the project, which is expected to cost a total of $4bn.

The country has allocated another KES1.85bn ($20.8m) to modernise commuter railway services connecting the city centre to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The project involves construction of about 7km of new track, as well as the rehabilitation or construction of stations and other facilities along the network.

The multiphase project is expected to cost Sh24bn ($271m) and after completion it is expected to link the city centre with outlying areas like Thika, Limuru and Athi River / Lukenya.

The government will spend an extra Sh1bn ($11m) to upgrade commuter railway services linking Nairobi to Thika town.