Standard Gauge Railway receives six locomotive engines

Six locomotive engines have arrived at the port of Mombasa as the construction of the standard gauge railway gathers pace.

Speaking to Citizen Digital at the Changamwe Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) gate, the managing director, Francis Muli, confirmed that eight more engines were expected to arrive before the end of the year.

He also added that the construction of the rail was on course and expressed confidence of beating the June 1, 2017 deadline to complete the multi-billion shilling project.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday witnessed the signing of the contract that would pave way for construction of the Standard Gauge Railway from Nairobi to Naivasha.

He had earlier presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the SGR Nairobi terminus.

President Kenyatta emphasized on the need for the contractor to increase local content in the project in terms of materials, equipment and labour.

“It is necessary that the project uses local content as much as possible and only imports when what is required cannot be obtained in the country,” he said.

China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBR) was asked to train and employ many youths to ensure that the project would continue running efficiently even after it is handed over to the government and that the modern railway is maintained upon completion.

The Commercial Contract for the construction of Phase 2A of the Nairobi–Naivasha SGR was signed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBR) Chairman Wen Gang and Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina during the Cabinet Steering Committee meeting on SGR chaired by the president.

The engines, weighing 130, 000 tones, were offloaded and transported to Mtito Andei and Emali.

The extension of the SGR is to open up Naivasha – the country’s geothermal production centre – for increased economic activities, especially farming.