Kenya Railways has attributed the increase in cargo transported through the old meter gauge railway to investment made by the government to revamp key links.
While speaking in Kajiado County, Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Philip Mainga said freight transportation on the old railway increased to more than 1.029 million tonnes in the last financial year ending June, surpassing last year’s achievement.
According to Mainga, a key driver of this resurgence is the revitalized Nanyuki Meter Gauge Railway where monthly freight capacity surged from 40,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes which was supported by the refurbishment.
KRC says the Nanyuki freight train plays a crucial role in the distribution of fuel, notably transporting approximately 600,000 litres of fuel in a single trip over a distance of 755 km from the Mombasa terminal in Shimanzi to the Vivo Energy depot in Nanyuki.
This substantial volume highlights the MGR’s growing contribution to the national logistics network and its enhanced efficiency in serving key industries.
The Corporation is also working to reconnect and upgrade other branch lines like in the coastal region where a trans-shipment facility at Voi is planned to link the SGR with the old MGR network, along with new cargo-handling yards at Taveta on the Kenya–Tanzania border.
“The upcoming revival of the 130 km Voi–Taveta railway line, which had ceased operations in the mid-2000s is on course and once the line is rehabilitated, will connect Kenya’s rail system directly into northern Tanzania reaching Moshi beyond the Taveta/Holili border,” said Mainga.
Mainga added that the initiative aligns further with recent discussions between the corporation and Taita Taveta County which explored a potential collaboration to revamp the railway line from Voi to Taveta.
“The re-establishment of this line promises to unlock new economic opportunities and improve logistics for the entire Taita Taveta County,” he said and adding that the local authorities and Kenya Railways leadership have been collaborating on this project, recognizing that it would boost regional trade and even tourism.
By restoring this route, businesses in both Kenya and Tanzania will gain a seamless, efficient logistics corridor, and communities along the line stand to benefit from renewed economic activity.
Furthermore, the anticipated completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension to the Kenya–Uganda border at Malaba, scheduled for commissioning later this year, is expected to significantly boost regional trade.
This strategic link will increase the volume of goods moved by rail across East Africa, further reinforcing rail transport’s role as a critical driver of economic growth and regional integration.
Common commodities being transported include fertilizers, bulk grain, steel, and containerized cargo for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers with vegetable oil being the latest addition to the equation.
KRC has also acquired internally-powered wagons designed to transport refrigerated containers for perishable goods without reliance on external power sources
As it stands, statistics indicate the corporation currently contributes to 3pc of the country’s GDP.
