New standard gauge rail project on course

By JACKSON OKOTH

The recruitment of a new chief executive for Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is on its tail end. A shortlist of names selected during recent recruitment process and recommendations are already on the desk of Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Engineer Michael Kamau, for consideration.

“I have the names of those interviewed and we will soon appoint a substantive managing director for the railways corporation,” said Engineer Kamau.

He made the remarks yesterday at the Kenya Railways Corporation offices before conducting members of the parliamentary committee on transport, public works and housing, on as tour of completed and ongoing rail projects in Nairobi.

The search for a new MD to take over from Nduva Muli, who was appointed principal secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, is expected to be complete ahead of the ground breaking ceremony for construction of a new standard gauge railway on November 28.

Once the new rail is complete, there will be two operators- one in the form of Rift Valley Railways (RVR), which operates the old line and Kenya Railways-who will be running the new standard gauge rail. “We have prepared a Bill to establish a regulator for the railway sector, to do some oversight work,” said Kamau.

The proposed new railway is expected to connect Mombasa to Kampala and Kigali, offering an alternative to cargo transporters who presently rely on an overstretched road transport network.

While construction of a new railway is on the horizon, work is already underway to upgrade Nairobi’s commuter rail system.

Phase one of the project is ongoing in which 26 modern commuter stations will be constructed. Work on four stations is ongoing and some are complete at Nairobi Railway Station, Makadara, Soykimau and Imara Daima. “Commuter services between Nairobi railway station and Syokimau have so far been successful and response from members of the public is positive. We are continually enacting measures to improve the service,” said Eng Kamau.

Opening of the Makadara and Imara Daima commuter stations is planned for November 2013, increasing the number of passengers using rail transport in Nairobi.

Introduction of rail transport into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is the main focus of the first phase.

The airport commuter rail project will include construction of a state of the art station at JKIA.