Kenya has unveiled a significant new railway linking the port city of Mombasa with Nairobi, the nation’s capital, 18 months ahead of schedule.
During the inauguration, President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that the $3.2 billion (£2.5 billion) project, funded by China, marks the beginning of a new era for the country.
He issued a stern warning, saying he would authorize the death penalty for those caught damaging the infrastructure after four individuals were detained for tampering with a section of the guardrail.
This railway is the largest infrastructure undertaking in Kenya since gaining independence.
Stretching 470km (290 miles), the line is part of China’s Belt and Road initiative, a global infrastructure development plan.
The railway is intended to eventually connect several landlocked countries, including South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ethiopia, to the Indian Ocean.
Just a week ago, President Kenyatta secured an additional $3.6 billion from China to extend the line by 250km (155 miles) from Naivasha to the lakeside city of Kisumu.
As Mr. Kenyatta campaigns for re-election this August, he emphasized that the project marks a pivotal moment for Kenya:
“A history that was first started 122 years ago when the British, who had colonised this nation, kicked off the train to nowhere… it was then dubbed the ‘Lunatic Express’.”
“Today… despite again a lot of criticism we now celebrate not the ‘Lunatic Express’ but the Madaraka [named after the day Kenya’s attained internal self-rule] Express that would begin to reshape the story of Kenya for the next 100 years.”
China’s Expanding Africa Strategy: By Judith Wambare, BBC Africa
While the railway is Kenya’s most significant infrastructure investment since independence, it also serves as part of China’s strategy to bolster economic connections within Africa.
China provided 80% of the funding through a concessional loan. This loan includes a 10-year grace period, during which the railway is anticipated to begin generating revenue. Repayments will then be made over a 30- to 40-year period.
The Mombasa-Nairobi route is the first segment of an 840km (525 miles) project that will eventually link Mombasa to Malaba, a town near Kenya’s western border.
For now, the Chinese will oversee the line’s operations, while Kenyan workers undergo training to eventually take control.
At the Belt and Road Forum for International Corporation held on May 15, Mr. Kenyatta urged China to ensure their economic relationship remains mutually beneficial, as Kenya formally aligned itself with the initiative.
The project’s steep price tag has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who claim the costs are inflated and the economic benefits overstated. The government, however, insists that infrastructure development is essential to attract foreign investors.
Highlights of Kenya’s New Railway:
- Cost: $3.2 billion (£2.5 billion)
- Funding: China financed the 470km (290 miles) line
- Construction Duration: Built in three-and-a-half years using Chinese technology
- Regional Connectivity: Will eventually link South Sudan, eastern DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ethiopia to the Indian Ocean
- Travel Efficiency: Reduces the Mombasa-Nairobi travel time to four-and-a-half hours, compared to nine hours by bus or 12 hours on the old railway
- Ticket Pricing: Economy class costs 900 Kenyan shillings ($9; £7), slightly less than a bus fare, while business class costs $30.
Harsh Measures for Vandals
Earlier this week, police detained three individuals for damaging the railway infrastructure, facing charges of economic sabotage.
President Kenyatta warned that such actions would not go unpunished:
“I acknowledge that the presidency gives me the right to pass laws… those found vandalising the infrastructure… I will pass a law for them to be hanged.”