The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is banking on the Meter Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba to boost cargo uptake from the Inland Container Depot (ICD). KPA acting managing director Rashid Salim made the announcement and said that the MGR will increase cargo haulage to the borders, into the hinterland.
“With the meter-gauge railway, we expect volumes through the inland container depot to grow,” said Salim.
Uganda which has been the biggest target with the ICD has been unwilling to use the facility, despite cutting the distance between Kampala and Mombasa by more than 500 kilometres. To entice Ugandans and other neighbouring countries, the Kenyan government has gone ahead to extend parcels of land near the ICD as it looks at turning the region into an industrial and logistic hub.
Boost to regional trade
Kenya Railways has been rehabilitating the line which will be connected to the Standard Gaige Railway (SGR) at Longonot area. The line is also expected to increase agricultural exports such as tea and coffee and serve factories in the Rift Valley, western Kenya and the fish industry in Kisumu. A link to the Kisumu Port is also expected to support revival of Lake Victoria water transport, connecting Kenya to ports of Uganda and Tanzania, a major boost to regional trade.
Uganda remains the biggest target for transit cargo through the Port of Mombasa and the Naivasha dry port, accounting for 83.2% of transit goods. South Sudan takes up 9.9% while DR Congo and Rwanda account for 7.2% and 2.4% respectively.
