Kenya Railways is planning to turn several towns along its railway network into commercial and logistics centres as the corporation looks to make better use of its rail infrastructure.
The corporation has identified 11 towns where the new hubs will be developed along the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) networks.
Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga said the plan is aimed at opening up more business opportunities along the railway corridors while making it easier for companies to move goods.
“With adequate land along the railway network, Kenya Railways is turning the rail corridor into an economic corridor,” Mainga said.
Among the towns lined up for commercial hubs along the SGR are Voi, Konza, Athi River, Bomet, Nyamira and Malaba.
The corporation also plans to establish hubs along the MGR network in Voi, Taveta, Nakuru, Eldoret and Malaba.
The proposed centres are expected to provide space for logistics and other commercial activities, allowing businesses to take advantage of railway connections to transport goods.
Mainga spoke on Monday, August 31, when he met a delegation of Ugandan Members of Parliament who were in Kenya for a benchmarking visit to study the country’s SGR and MGR operations.
The planned hubs are part of Kenya Railways’ efforts to expand the role of railway infrastructure beyond transporting passengers and cargo.
The corporation is also working on the extension of the SGR from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba, with the project expected to be completed by July 2027.
The Kisumu link is expected to improve connections between the railway and Lake Victoria, creating room for goods to be moved through a combination of rail and lake transport, including connections to Uganda.
For towns such as Voi, Eldoret, Nakuru and Malaba, the planned commercial centres could provide new opportunities for businesses operating around transport, storage and trade once the projects are implemented.
The development also comes as Uganda works to improve its railway network from Malaba to Kampala. The Ugandan delegation’s visit to Kenya was aimed at learning from the country’s experience in running and rehabilitating its railway system.
If implemented as planned, Kenya Railways expects the hubs to help turn railway corridors into centres of economic activity while increasing the commercial value of land and infrastructure along the network.
