Mombasa Commuter Rail Launched to Ease City Congestion
By Chemtai Kirui, MOMBASA,
A 16.6-kilometre commuter rail service linking Miritini’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus to Mombasa’s Central Business District has been launched, with officials saying it will carry about 4,000 passengers daily at a fare of KSh50.
The SGR, known locally as the Madaraka Express, connects Nairobi to Mombasa but has long faced last-mile challenges for passengers heading into the coastal city.
The new link, which officials said cost KSh4.2 billion, combines 13.8 km of rehabilitated metre-gauge track with a 2.8 km new section, creating a direct commuter service into the city centre, while easing congestion on Mombasa’s roads.
Trains will run nine trips daily — five from Miritini to the CBD and four in the opposite direction. New stops include Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, Mazeras and the CBD.
“This is more than a local convenience. It is a symbol of our past, a solution for the present, and a promise for the future,” President William Ruto said Wednesday at the launch, adding that the line would cut transport costs and improve connectivity.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir, Cabinet Secretaries Davis Chirchir and Salim Mvurya, as well as several MPs and MCAs, attended the launch, where President Ruto also announced development projects worth more than KSh140 billion for the coastal city.
These projects include the KSh65 billion Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, a KSh41 billion port expansion, KSh24 billion in housing and market projects, and KSh4.7 billion for road works across the city.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the rail service is part of broader government plans to expand urban commuter networks in major towns and reduce reliance on road traffic.
