China to build Kenya's standard gauge

[John Ashworth]

CHINA TO BUILD KENYA’S STD GAUGE

On October 9, 2012 Railways Africa

According to Kenya Association of Manufacturers chairman Polycarp Igathe, “It is therefore music to the ears to learn that China Roads and Bridges has signed a commercial contract with the Kenya Railways Corporation for commencement of the standard gauge rail from Mombasa to Malaba and perhaps into Kampala.” The statement followed a tour of the harbour at Mombasa on 19 September during which Igathe was told that Rift Valley Railways only manages to move 4% of freight traffic leaving the docks for inland. He was quoted criticising RVR’s performance at length, saying inter alia: “This [the standard gauge scheme] is a game changer project. How else under the sun shall Kenya harness and commercialise the plenty we have found within our borders (oil, gas and coal) in recent days without a functional railway managed by committed institutions?” Of the harbour tour he said: “We witnessed firsthand, that at long last, chronic port congestion and inefficiencies are being tackled – bravely by Kenya Ports (KPA) and timidly by Rift Valley Railways (RVR)… We can confirm that delays in cargo offtake and high cost of cargo transportation are the result of dismal failure in improving railway infrastructure in tandem with port infrastructure.

“Citadel Capital and Transcentury, the major shareholders in RVR must simply know that they have failed the land and country in outstanding fashion.”