The Path to Benefit the People, the Road to Prosperity—The Seven-Year Operation of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway

Children wait to board a train at the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway Station in Nairobi, Kenya, October 6, 2023.

In the early morning, accompanied by the crisp sound of a whistle, a train filled with passengers slowly departs from the station. The slogan "Connecting Nations, Leading to Prosperity" flashes by on the carriage. This is the "Happiness Train" running on the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway. On May 31, 2017, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, constructed by Chinese enterprises, was officially completed and opened to traffic. Connecting the largest port in East Africa, Mombasa, and Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway is the first railway built in Kenya since its independence. It adopts Chinese standards, technology, equipment, and operational management. It is one of the significant achievements of the China-Kenya Belt and Road Initiative and a crucial part of the northern corridor of the East African railway network. According to statistics, as of May 31 this year, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has been operating safely for seven years, running 6.4 passenger trains and 15 freight trains daily, transporting a total of 12.86 million passengers and 32.87 million tons of cargo.

Over the Seven Years, the Railway Has Become the Most Popular Mode of Travel

The operation of passenger trains on the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has improved the travel experience for locals traveling between Nairobi and Mombasa, reducing a journey that used to take more than ten hours to just five hours. Over the past seven years, thanks to its comfortable environment and meticulous service, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has become the most popular mode of travel for Kenyans. Shadrack, a construction engineer living in Nairobi, frequently travels between Nairobi and Mombasa for work. "Previously, we could only travel by car, which took a long time and often faced traffic jams. Now, not only is the carriage environment good, but the journey is also smooth and comfortable, and it arrives on time," said Shadrack. He believes the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has facilitated travel for the people, promoted personnel exchanges, and business development between the two cities. He hopes there will be more such China-Kenya cooperation projects.

Since its opening, the passenger volume of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has increased annually, from 700,000 passengers in 2017 to 2.73 million passengers in 2023. In addition, the freight volume of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has also shown an upward trend, with container transportation increasing by 40% in five years, significantly promoting connectivity in the East African region. Before the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway began operations, cargo transportation relied heavily on the meter-gauge railway and road transport. At that time, it took more than 20 hours to transport goods from Mombasa to Nairobi via the meter-gauge railway. Now, it takes only 8 hours to transport goods from Mombasa to Nairobi via the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway. Edward, the head of a logistics company in Nairobi, stated that the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has not only alleviated congestion at Mombasa Port but also reduced operating costs for manufacturers and improved supply chain efficiency.

Over the Seven Years, Promoting Kenya's Modernization

"Roads open, industries flourish." Over the past seven years, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has accelerated Kenya's modernization process and left a significant mark on China-Africa cooperation for mutual benefit. According to experts, the project has contributed over 2% to Kenya's GDP. The opening of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has continuously driven the rapid development of Kenya's transportation industry. According to the latest data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in 2024, Kenya's transportation industry's annual growth rate is 17.6%, far exceeding the national economic growth rate of 5.6%. In 2023, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway's passenger revenue increased by 11.7%, and freight revenue grew by 7.3%. Additionally, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has ensured the transportation of grain in Kenya. The Kenya Grain Bulk Transport Company transports over 3 million tons of grain annually through the railway, meeting domestic grain demand, reducing grain prices, and bringing benefits to Kenya's socio-economic stability and the lives of ordinary people.

Philip Mainga, the general manager of Kenya Railways Corporation, said, "Since its opening in 2017, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has brought many positive changes, especially in economic vitality. The impact and advantages of railway freight are evident. We transport goods from Mombasa Port to the inland and then distribute them throughout the East African region, greatly improving our industrial efficiency."

Over the past seven years, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has become a model of China-Kenya cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and will further promote cooperation between China and Kenya and even China and Africa. "China has always been a reliable partner for Kenya, and China's support is crucial for Africa's development," said Moses Masika Wetangula, Speaker of the Kenyan National Assembly. Currently, Kenya is China's largest trading partner in East Africa, and China is Kenya's largest trading partner and the largest source of imports. The extensive and in-depth cooperation between the two sides in infrastructure construction and bilateral trade has had a positive and far-reaching impact on Kenya's national landscape and socio-economic development.

Source: <https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/p/03IJF1JB.html>