Railways are an important long-term solution to the transport challenges across Kenya and East Africa today. Right now, rail transport accounts for 0.4% of all journeys across the Capital city Nairobi.

As in Japan, railway construction and environmental concerns should attract more investment in the railway system. It also tackles issues of punctuality and affordability if a viable public private partnership (PPP) is encouraged by government policies. The private sector railway service should be allowed to augment their income by engaging in businesses such as electric power supply, bus operation services, real estate development and management of department stores around railway stations. This model of railway has been successful in Japan.

Photo Credit: Traditionally referred to as the “Iron Snake” by Kenyan communities before independence, a section of the Kenya-Uganda Railway line snakes through the landscape at Molo within the Mau Forest complex. This railway line is owned by the RVR Limited (Rift Valley Railway Limited) which has been in the news of late as Kenyan private equity firm Transcentury Group battle Citadel Capital of Egypt for supremacy of the consortium.