Why SGR is unable to pay its running costs a year later

President Uhuru kenyatta flags off a cargo during the SGR Cargo train launch at Mombasa Port on Tuesday 30/05/17. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

As passenger number 1,338,001 boarded the Madaraka Express on Thursday last week to mark one year since it began operations, questions still linger about the economic viability of Kenya’s most ambitious piece of infrastructure.

Despite raking in an impressive Sh1 billion in the first year, which translates to Sh2.7 million daily, the SGR cannot meet operational costs. This is the paradox policy makers and President Uhuru Kenyatta are uncomfortable talking about as they insist on how successful the passenger service has been.