EAST AFRICA‘S NORTHERN CORRIDOR
Posted on 21 November 2009
In the next 20 years, some 30 million tonnes of goods per annum are projected to pass through East Africa’s northern corridor, which extends from Mombasa through Kisumu in Kenya and past Kampala in Uganda. The current figure is about 15 million tonnes currently, 90% of which goes by road.
Local inhabitants recall times when the Mombasa-Kampala railway was well maintained and flourishing, linking people and places. Following the disbanding of the East African community thirty years ago, neither the line nor the rolling stock enjoyed proper upkeep, limiting mobility in Kenya and Uganda to members of the middle and upper classes who can still afford bus and plane tickets.
Small towns like Busembatia lost out badly with the demise of the railway. Busembatia and Eldoret, for instance, were served by an efficient branch off the main-line. Today they rely on Nairobi for supplies.
Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) managing director Nduva Muli expects the new railway now proposed to reduce transport costs by 30%, and cut haulage time “from weeks to hours.”
In East Africa as a whole, some 5,700km of new trackage is planned, including Lamu-Juba, Nairobi-Addis Abeba, Kampala-Kigali, Dar es Salaam-Kigali-Bujumbura, and Gulu/Pakwach-Juba.
[ Assuming the proponents succeed in sourcing funds and constructing nearly 6,000km of new line – in addition to acquiring the necessary rolling stock – what steps will they take to ensure that all is properly maintained? Any shortfall in this crucial area risks everything collapsing back into square one. – editor
Related posts:
- WHAT EAST AFRICA’S NEW RAILWAYS WILL COST
- KENYA’S RAILWAY AMBITIONS
- SPOORNET IN EAST AFRICA – REMEMBER WHEN?
- EAST AFRICA TO ZERO INTERNAL CUSTOMS DUES
- KENYA SEEKS ADVISOR FOR NEW LINE
Dear stationmaster,
In the streets of Kenyan Cities and Townships you encounter hawkers of every merchandise imaginable; clothes, electronics, books, VCDs, tools and hardware, bows and arrows, firearms, medicines both traditional and modern, drugs, foods, etc. Characteristic of theses hawkers is that they believe they have everything you need. And moreover you are under obligation to buy! The hawker would look at you straight into your eye and ask you menacingly to say what you want. Your failure to buy may be followed by expletives but it is much better to pacify these fellows by buying anyway (then why were you looking?). So what if you waste a few shillings. In Kenya, the Railways can also be hawked. A few individuals working for themselves under the name of “Kenya Railways” have the talent. Kenya Railways was an honourable institution that closed shop in November 2006 after handing over the running of the Rift Valley Railways to Sheltam. A small group of some three or four former KRC professionals were left behind to help the Assets (non-railways assets such as land and buildings) Manager dispose off what RVR did not need. Not anymore. They have redefined themselves and formed a high money clique giving Kenyans anything they ever dreamt of in rail travel. Incidentally it is this same clique which hired the Spoornets 40 year old 92 class locomotives in the mid 1990s to supposedly boost motive power while leaving more powerful newer locomotives to rot in KRC yards. It is the same clique which concession the Kenya and Uganda Railways to Sheltam in still unclear but destructive terms for the Kenyan tax payer. Now Sheltam has fled they want to give double-decker high speed passenger trains in Kenya from Mombasa to Nairobi and on to Kisumu (dala-home!). Again remember you are in the streets of Nairobi and the least you can do for your own wellbeing is BUY what they are hawking!
Building a major Railway line costing billions of dollars is a major investment plan for the country and where to lay that line will determine the future National Development of the country. Such a project falls under the ministry of Transport and the seating government should first convince the population (priorities, viability, affordability, etc) before tendering out the work. Already some 400 bidders are being short-listed to give Kenyan what they want. Or is it which bidder will give this clique what they want?
How long will Kenya continue to be looted in broad day-light? Who is to stop this madness?