Kenya has launched the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) cargo service and an inland container depot (ICD) that are expected to revolutionize transport of bulk cargo to the east Africa nation’s hinterland and neighboring countries.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong, were among dignitaries who graced the launch of the SGR phase 2A freight service and dry port located in the resort town of Naivasha.
“Today, we mark the commencement of the freight train services to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot; thus making an unequivocal statement that we as a people are ready to ascend,” said Kenyatta during the launch in Nairobi.
The freight service launch came after the Nairobi-Naivasha SGR passenger service was inaugurated on October 16 this year. The 120km Nairobi-Naivasha railway is an extension of the Chinese-built modern railway that connects Kenya’s coastal port city Mombasa to the capital Nairobi. The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR was launched in 2017.