Sunday, February 28, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

On board Kenya’s Madaraka Express

by Dan Banik
13/06/2019
in Uncategorized
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

I recently had the pleasure of riding the Madaraka Express—a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project that connects Nairobi to the port city of Mombasa.

It gave me a first-hand experience of how a Chinese “mega project” works, and how it is being financed, maintained and expanded to other parts of Kenya.

RelatedHeadlines

Mtsutso pa zoika a Covid-19

Amwalira atathawa m’chipatala

Burglary at the hill

The Nairobi terminus, where I began my journey, is a shiny new building located 23 kilometres from the city centre. It offers modern facilities and is equipped with touch-screens that enable you to print your pre-purchased tickets, which, when scanned, then allow you to enter the platform.

Security is tight and after at least four checkpoints, I finally boarded the impressive carriage where two smartly clad attendants directed me to my pre-assigned seat. The ride itself was smooth and, as the train left the station, we were treated to the majestic scenery of Nairobi National Park.

The seats were comfortable, with easy access to power outlets and the bathrooms were clean and well-maintained. Food and drinks were available for purchase onboard and the service from the train attendants was impeccable.

This train could have been in service anywhere in the world, but given the high demand and need for infrastructural development on the African continent, Kenya’s SGR project appears particularly impressive and timely.

Almost everyone I spoke to in Kenya, including passengers, political observers, students, journalists and fellow academics, highlighted the numerous benefits of this new railway service—drastic reduction in travel time, relatively inexpensive fares, pleasant travel in air-conditioned comfort, reduction in road accidents on the treacherous road between the two cities, new jobs and a sense of national pride.

But this landmark project, built by a Chinese firm at an estimated cost of $3.6 billion, has also received its share of criticism. Many Kenyans have questioned their government’s ability to repay the huge loans, particularly since preliminary reports have found that revenue from cargo and sale of passenger tickets has been far less than anticipated.

Others have demanded greater transparency on how the loans were negotiated and the exact conditions attached—information that the government is yet to make public. In recent months, the Kenyan media has also reported on how contracts for the project were awarded to politically well-connected individuals and their companies, and several individuals I spoke to claimed that this enormously expensive project has fattened the wallets of influential politicians and their supporters.

Kenya is now expanding the SGR network to other parts of the country, and only time will tell whether this ambitious project will be an economic success. What is indisputable is that Kenya offers numerous lessons to other African countries seeking to undertake major investments aimed at improving their infrastructure.

Previous Post

Treasury seeks to reduce disaster risks to economy

Next Post

Justice delayed isn’t just

Related Posts

covid death | The Nation Online
Nkhani

Mtsutso pa zoika a Covid-19

February 28, 2021
death e1465557792659 | The Nation Online
Chichewa

Amwalira atathawa m’chipatala

February 28, 2021
mtambo | The Nation Online
People’s Tribunal

Burglary at the hill

February 28, 2021
Next Post
94743423 albinosurvivor | The Nation Online

Justice delayed isn’t just

Opinions and Columns

People’s Tribunal

Burglary at the hill

February 28, 2021
Search Within

Perseverance landed, is alive and well

February 28, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

Tasting your own salt in politics

February 28, 2021
People’s Tribunal

When blood of citizens is on head of leaders

February 28, 2021

Trending Stories

  • Court has declared Escom a private firm

    Court declares Escom private company

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • K1.7bn Chisale assets seized

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Inside Chisale’s seized property

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What the hell is APM doing with BJ?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • HRDC alleges threats, intimidation from investor

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.