KIJABE RAILWAY SECTION TESTED IN DRY RUN AHEAD OF FULL RESUMPTION OF SERVICES

KIJABE RAILWAY SECTION REOPENS AFTER MAJOR REPAIRS, RESTORING REGIONAL CARGO AND PASSENGER SERVICES

By Maximilla Wafula 

The County Diary News

Kenya Railways has reopened the critical Kijabe section of the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) following the successful completion of extensive rehabilitation works, marking a major milestone in the restoration of rail connectivity between Mombasa, Western Kenya, and the wider East African region.

The reopening follows a final inspection conducted from Uplands Station through Kijabe to Longonot, confirming that the line is now safe for full operations. Rail services along this corridor were suspended in April and May 2024 after unprecedented heavy rains from the Aberdare ranges caused massive flooding and landslides, washing away sections of the track and key drainage structures.

Speaking during the inspection, Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga said the works covered a six-kilometre stretch, with an overall operational impact of about 12 kilometres. The project involved the reconstruction and reinforcement of 12 major and minor culverts, several of them deep and technically demanding due to the steep terrain and unstable ground conditions.

“This has been a high-risk and complex project. Our engineers, contractors, and local workers operated in extremely difficult conditions, day and night, but we are happy that the line is now fully restored and safe for use,” Mainga said. He added that the rehabilitation cost approximately KSh 5Billion.

With the successful inspection, freight trains are set to resume immediately, with several cargo trains already queued to pass through the section. Passenger services to Kisumu will also resume, ending the need for transshipment through Naivasha that had been in place during the closure.

The Kijabe corridor is a vital artery for regional trade, supporting the movement of fertiliser, farm produce, steel products, containerised cargo, and conventional goods. At full capacity, the line handles more than 10 freight and passenger trains daily, each freight train carrying between 2,000 and 2,300 tonnes. Kenya Railways estimates that each train removes up to 40 heavy trucks from the road, significantly reducing congestion and road damage.

Mainga noted that the reopening will benefit traders in Western Kenya and neighbouring countries including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also confirmed that full protection and drainage works will continue even as train operations resume to guard against future weather-related disruptions.

“This railway line has served the region for over a century. Restoring it is not just about transport, but about sustaining livelihoods, regional integration, and economic growth,” he said.