With no functional railway EA cannot compete, says player

East Africa railway network which was built over a 100 years ago has grown so old and dilapidated thus needing a total overhaul, according to a number of stakeholders.

Mombasa

The Kenya Ports Authority managing director, Mr Gichiri Ndua, has said unless the Kenya-Uganda railway is overhauled, East Africa risks lagging behind other regions in economic growth and development.

An efficient rail system is what the port handling company of Mombasa - the region’s gateway to East and Central Africa, needs to complement its services to ensure efficient transportation of goods across the region.

By the end of 2011, Mombasa Port handled container traffic worth 756,797 twenty foot units, up from 695,600 the previous year.

While launching a two-day media workshop organised by KPA and Trademark EA in Mombasa yesterday in Mombasa, Mr Ndua said there is need for regional governments to fast-track the revamping of the dilapidated railway system, as it hurts business operations across the region.

“The railway system has declined over time yet it is the most economical and reliable way of transporting bulk goods. We need to replace the rail if we are to do business more efficiently,” Mr Ndua said. He added: “As a region, we shall not be able to compete favorably with the rest of the world unless the railway issue is sorted. A clearly functioning railway is core for effective business transaction.”

Mr Ndua’s comments come at a time when the Kenya-Uganda railway that starts from Mombasa Port via Nairobi to Kampala continues to be underutilised.

Recorded loses
Recently, the National Planning Authority said Uganda alone loses approximately Shs900 billion annually due to its over-reliance on road transport, an issue that cannot be avoided due to the limited railway functionality.

In its current state, the Kenya-Uganda railway line cannot handle bigger and faster trains due to the old culverts that need to be replaced in addition to hundreds of rail slippers that have been vandalised.

However, Rift Valley Railways, the company managing the line say there has been progress in the renovation of a section of the railway, and expect to start transiting bigger and faster trains between Mombasa and Kampala by December 31.

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