After several years of suspension, Kenya has reinstated the railway network in its main port city, Mombasa. The goal is to improve traffic flow and reduce transportation costs for local residents.
On 17 September, President William Ruto inaugurated the resumption of the service. The project, launched in 2022, involved the modernization of nearly 14 km of existing tracks and the construction of 2.8 km of new lines, bringing the total to 16.6 km. This new service is designed to carry up to 4,000 passengers per day, offering a faster alternative to road travel for daily commutes between residential areas and the city center.
The initiative aims to address the road congestion affecting the metropolitan area of 1.5 million inhabitants. Mombasa’s saturated road traffic negatively impacts the competitiveness of the port, a major economic hub for Kenya. With a ticket price estimated at 50 shillings compared to 300 shillings previously, the commuter train provides a much more affordable transport option for the population.
The relaunch of this service is part of a broader national plan to modernize railway transport. Authorities aim to connect several key cities such as Naivasha, Kisumu, and Malaba. Additionally, the country seeks to strengthen the trade corridor linking the port of Lamu to neighboring countries such as Ethiopia and South Sudan. However, the implementation of these ambitious projects remains a challenge, mainly due to the scale of the required funding.
