The Nairobi- Nakuru railway line project is set to act a supportive infrastructure for Kisumu port. This is according to the Defense Chief Administrative Secretary, Mr. Peter Odoyo.
Mr. Peter Odoyo said that the government embarked on the rehabilitation of the old railway line from Nakuru to Kisumu to be a supporting infrastructure for the newly constructed Kisumu port. Kenya Railways, Managing Director Philip Mainga said that revamping of the metre-gauge railway, which had been neglected for over two decades, followed a presidential directive aimed at stimulating the economy along the rail route.
The works costing Sh 3.7bn is being handled by the Kenya Defence Force in partnership with the Kenya Railways Corporation and will be completed in eight months. The military will manage the project, while the Kenya Railways will provide the required materials. The National Youth Service on the other hand will undertake the clearing of bushes along the 216 kilometre line and do other manual jobs.
Supportive infrastructure strategy
Port of Kisumu is one of the key priority project that would make the Trans-African Highway a practical route from Lagos to Mombasa, Mombasa to Kisumu, Kisumu to Port Bell, Port Bell to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), DRC to the Central African Republic, and then to Cameroon and back to Lagos. The 216km line will connect to the recently refurbished Kisumu port, which will enable ferrying of cargo and passengers to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo on ships via the Lake.
The country stands to benefit a great deal with the revival of the economy. Mr. Peter Odoyo however emphasised that the billion shillings port risks remaining a white elephant project should the route remain unattended.
