Agencies between a rock and a hard place in railway revival journey

A cargo train at Naivasha Inland Container Depot in Kenya.

A cargo train at Naivasha Inland Container Depot in Kenya.


Photo credit: DENNIS ONSONGO | NMG

East African governments are having sleepless nights in their quest to revive and guarantee efficient railway system to lower the cost of moving cargo.

While Kenya successfully built a standard gauge railway, connecting the port of Mombasa and inland port in Naivasha to facilitate movement of cargo to neighbouring countries, a recent policy shift that gives importers liberty to choose the mode of transport has placed authorities between a rock and hard place.