NAIROBI,Kenya– Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has celebrated its 8th year of operations with a pledge to ramp up freight movement and passenger service in the coming year.
At a commemorative event held in Nairobi, Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Philip Mainga revealed optimistic projections for 2025, highlighting a sharp rise in both cargo and passenger numbers.
“When you look at the annual performance of the Standard Gauge Railway, we are going to exceed our last year by one million tonnes in 2025 to close at 7 million tonnes,” Mainga said.
“We are also expecting a growth in passenger volumes by about 300,000 to reach 2.6 million passengers this year.”
He pointed to the railway’s growing impact on sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture two critical pillars of the national economy.
According to Mainga, the SGR not only provides a dependable logistics channel but also plays a vital role in easing highway congestion and accelerating regional commerce.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, underscored the broader diplomatic significance of the railway, framing it as a milestone in Kenya–China relations.
“The journey of SGR reflects 80 years of deepening China–Kenya friendship and forward-looking partnership,” said Haiyan.
“Guided by the consensus reached by our Heads of State, and following the fruitful outcomes of President Ruto’s visit to China, let us continue to forge ahead. Let’s turn the SGR into a road of prosperity, a road for the people, and a road of innovation.”
She praised the alignment between Kenya’s long-term development agenda and China’s global infrastructure vision, noting the SGR’s role in uplifting communities and driving inclusive growth.
The 472-kilometre Mombasa–Nairobi line, completed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at a cost of Sh327 billion, remains a flagship infrastructure project.
The initiative was jointly funded, with Kenya covering 10% of the total cost and the remaining 90% sourced from a loan provided by the Export-Import Bank of China.
