Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has said the launch of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service will revolutionise daily transport for thousands of residents, traders and tourists.
He said it will cut travel time, ease congestion, and provide a safer, more affordable alternative to road travel.
Speaking on Wednesday during the commissioning of the service in Mombasa, the Head of State noted that the commuter link between the central business district and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus in Miritini was a timely and vital solution to the city’s long-standing traffic nightmare.
“For too long, passengers commuting between Mombasa town and Miritini have endured congestion, delays and the burden of unreliable road traffic,” he said.
“With this new service, journeys will be faster, safer, and more predictable.”
The new commuter rail service connects Mombasa’s Central Business District (CBD) to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus in Miritini.
The project includes the rehabilitation of a 13.8-kilometre section of the old metre-gauge railway and the construction of a new 2.8-kilometre link to the SGR line.
With strategic stops at Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, Mazeras, and Mombasa CBD, the service is expected to transport up to 4,000 passengers daily.
It is designed not only to decongest the city’s roads but also to provide a safer, more affordable, and time-saving alternative for commuters and tourists alike.
“This is about more than just improving how people move; it is about enhancing productivity, attracting investment, and making Mombasa a more liveable, accessible, and competitive city,” Ruto noted.
The rail, he said, is not only efficient, but it is also safe.
“With an average of 2.6 million passengers already using the Madaraka Express each year, this commuter link will boost passenger numbers, improve safety and save lives by reducing road carnage,” he stated.
He pointed out that beyond easing local commutes, the rail service would make Mombasa more attractive as a hub for business and tourism, while also reinforcing Kenya’s strategic role as a gateway to regional markets.
Ruto said the commuter rail was designed with the people in mind, stressing that it would offer a reliable, modern and affordable means of transport that would uplift productivity across the coastal region.
“By serving vital routes, this service will decongest the city, enhance productivity, and make daily commuting easier for thousands of people. That is why today’s commissioning is a landmark occasion not just for Mombasa, but for the entire nation,” he said.
Several Cabinet Secretaries, including Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport) and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, were present.
The significance of launching the project at Kilometre Zero was not lost on the President, who invoked the historical roots of rail in Kenya.
The Kenya-Uganda Railway, famously dubbed the “Lunatic Express”, began at the same spot nearly 130 years ago, carrying the promise of development and integration into the interior.
“Today, Kilometre Zero once again makes history as the place where modern Kenya’s transport revolution begins anew,” Ruto said.He also emphasised that the project is part of a larger, long-term government strategy to expand the country’s rail network, from Naivasha to Malaba through Kisumu, and along the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor.
With the new commuter service now operational, passengers from the heart of Mombasa can board the train directly to the SGR terminus at Miritini, then connect seamlessly to the Madaraka Express to Nairobi and beyond.
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