To date, the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR is the biggest infrastructure project in the country since independence. The localisation of SGR operations has reached nearly 80 percent. The significant  rise of Kenyans working in SGR increased through technical skills transfer in 123 railway specialties.

It is reported that 1,072 Kenyans had undergone training to perform duties independently and 252 Kenyans were upgraded for leadership positions. 

Recently Africa Star Railway Operation launched a report on 1,000 days of SGR operations at Syokimau, Kenya. According to the report, SGR has marked 1,000 days for smooth operations on the basis of safety, efficiency and responsiveness to customer needs.

The number of Kenyans in leadership roles in SGR is expected to increase as the percentage of localisation goes up. Now 252 Kenyans are in leadership positions in SGR across the Mombasa-Nairobi-Naivasha route.

The company’s general manager Li Jiuping told the media, “Kenya’s SGR passenger trains have transported 4.17 million passengers, while the freight trains ferried 771,000 TEUs of bulk cargo. We firmly believe safety is the bottom line in railway operation. This is achieved by enhancing the safety management system, establishing a safety and supervision team to constantly oversee safety matters, and promoting public security capacity.”

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR is vital to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The main contractor for SGR development was the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

The post Localisation of Kenya’s SGR operations reach 80% appeared first on International Finance.

“We have not yet got the funding and the meeting between us, Kenya and Beijing concluded that there is money but each country needs to work on its financial modalities of the railway project before money is released,” Ugandan Finance Minister Matia Kasaija told The East African.

He noted that China has already pledged to invest in the project but the funding was delayed because of a complication in the understanding between Uganda and Kenya.

According to him, Kenya was supposed to extend their railway line to Malaba, but they have not been able to do so.

So far, Kenya has completed the first phase linking Mombasa to Nairobi at a cost of $3.8 billion. The second phase’s work is in progress which links Nairobi to Naivasha. The cost for the second phrase is estimated to be around $1.7 billion.

The third phase connecting Naivasha to Malaba has led to the complications. According to agreed terms, Uganda was to receive its share of funding only after the completion of the third phase.

Despite the delay in completion of the project and also receiving funds from China, both Uganda and Kenya have vowed to remain committed to the SGR project.

Both Uganda and Kenya’s governments decided to construct the SGR back in 2008.

The 1500km project, which was expected to be completed by 2018, was meant to lower transport costs and boost business in the region.

The initial idea of the SGR was for the creation of a railway line that would transport both cargo and passengers from Mombasa to Kampala, with links to Kigali and Juba.

According to the Daily Monitor, 90 percent of Ugandan bound cargo passes through Mombasa port.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced $60 billion in new funding for friendly African countries.

The post China puts forward conditions before investing in Kenya, Uganda SGR appeared first on International Finance.