Audio By Carbonatix
The second phase of Kenya's new railway line, running from the capital Nairobi to Naivasha town, will be opened today for passenger services only.
Cargo services will have to wait for the construction of a dry port, which could take longer than planned after the local Maasai community moved to court to oppose its construction.
The 120km (74 miles) stretch has been built by the China Communications and Construction Company at a cost of 150 billion Kenyan shillings ($1.4bn; £1.10bn).
Passenger services will only be available in four of the 12 stations, The Business Daily newspaper quotes Kenya Railways head Philip Mainga as saying.
Its launch lacks the fanfare witnessed at the opening of the first phase - which cost $3bn to build - running from the coastal city of Mombasa to Nairobi in May 2017.
The Standard Gauge Railway line project has cost close to three times the international standard and four times the original estimate.
The government explained the reasons for the high cost include the terrain that required many bridges, tunnels and land compensation.
About 80% of the money for the railway came through loans from China.
The initial plan was for the railway to run from the coastal town of Mombasa to the lakeside town of Kisumu, and a possible extension to Uganda.
The country will now need to borrow an additional $3.3bn to complete the project.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
‘I don’t trust OSP’ to probe GH¢70k ‘bribe’ allegation – Kwasi Kwarteng
2 minutes -
Road inspections not to witch-hunt contractors – Kwame Agbodza
26 minutes -
Inter Milan mount stunning comeback to beat Napoli
34 minutes -
Modric plans to play for Croatia past 41st birthday
44 minutes -
Bayern fail to score for first time in 59 games
48 minutes -
Bawumia preparing new cocoa policy package for farmers – Annoh-Dompreh
52 minutes -
Wa-Tumu-Bolga road upgrade will unlock agriculture, trade – Agbodza
54 minutes -
Ghana Maritime Authority readies oil-spill response vessel for deployment
56 minutes -
Ayariga turns to drones, AI to tackle Agbogbloshie waste mountain
1 hour -
Agbogbloshie waste heap must go – Mahama Ayariga declares
1 hour -
Government to upgrade all rural telephony sites to 4G – Communications Minister
1 hour -
Rural calls, data to become cheaper by Q1 2027 – Sam George
1 hour -
National Chief Imam remains Ghana’s strongest symbol of interfaith harmony – Mahama Ayariga
2 hours -
Nhyiaesohene pledges support to ECG to curb encroachment
2 hours -
Somanya residents demand asphalt overlay to protect road investment
2 hours