Businesses urged to tap newly refurbished Nairobi-Nanyuki Railway

Businesses in the Mount Kenya and Northern Kenya regions are being encouraged to tap the newly refurbished Nairobi-Nanyuki Railway to ferry cargo to the area since it is a cheaper and safer mode of transport. 

Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau says use of railway to transport petroleum products reduces the risks associated with road transport. 

Vivo Energy Kenya was the first firm to ferry fuel on the Nairobi-Nanyuki Railway.

It plans to ferry 15 million litres of fuel monthly from Nairobi to their depot in Nanyuki.

Shunting operations at @vivoenergykenya Nanyuki Depot’s Rail Offloading area. Oh happy days! #NanyukiLine #RailwayProjects pic.twitter.com/kfll5nPx0O

— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) August 6, 2020

In December 2016, Kenyans woke up to horrific news of death and chaos after a vehicle ferrying inflammable materials, lost control ramming into oncoming vehicles at the Karai area along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway. 

This is in addition to another fatal incident in 2009 at the Sachangwan area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway involving a truck ferrying petroleum products.

With the operationalization of the newly refurbished Nairobi-Nanyuki Railway, the government hopes to mitigate such risks as well as lower the cost of cargo transport. 

Kenya Railways says they have reduced charges to encourage businesses in the Mount Kenya and Northern Kenya regions to embrace transport cargo via the refurbished railway with Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi saying the refurbished railway will open a new chapter in the region’s economy.

PS Petroleum @andrewnkamau rides on the newly rehabilitated metre gauge railway from Nairobi to Nanyuki. The rehabilitation works were supported by KPC through the National Treasury. @andrewnkamau @MadiniKenya #BeyondFuel pic.twitter.com/2Uu2D6H27g

— KPC (@kenyapipeline) August 5, 2020