Tea transported to Mombasa via SGR for the first time

Kenya Railways has transported Kenya Tea Development Authority’s locally grown black tea by rail from Nairobi to Mombasa for the first time via Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

This first export consignment which transported a total of 31 full 40 ft containers was loaded at Nairobi Freight Terminal (NFT) and started it’s journey Wednesday, 5th January 2022, at Nairobi Terminus.

It made a momentary stop at Kibwezi Station to pave way for the passenger train and arrived in Mombasa before the crack of dawn Thursday morning, 06th January 2022.

… Nairobi Freight Terminal (NFT) and started it’s journey yesterday, 5th January 2022, at Nairobi Terminus, making a momentary stop at Kibwezi Station to pave way for the passenger train and arrived in Mombasa before the crack of dawn this morning, 06th January 2022 #KRFreight pic.twitter.com/kF5PFdhBMu

— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) January 6, 2022

In September last year, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya announced the move noting that it will reduce transport costs.

CS Munya said this will be done by considering the quantity of tea needed in the auction to cut on the warehousing costs with the other being left at the factories.

He said previously, tea used to be stored even for six months in Mombasa warehouses which attracted a lot of storage charges.