Kenya’s rail transport got a lift after President William Ruto unveiled the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service, a city–SGR link expected to ease congestion and boost trade.
- •The 13.8-kilometre rehabilitated metre-gauge line from Kilometre Zero to Miritini, together with a new 2.8-kilometre link to the SGR, closes a longstanding gap between Mombasa town and the Madaraka Express.
- •With capacity for up to 4,000 passengers daily, the service is expected to decongest the city and strengthen Mombasa’s role as a hub for trade and tourism.
- • According to the latest Leading Economic Indicators, the number of passengers using the SGR rose from 183,359 in May 2025 to 226,717 in June, with revenues increasing from KSh 325.9 million to KSh 373.9 million. Cargo volumes also grew from 586,000 metric tonnes (MT) to 732,500 MT.
“Efficient, safe, and sustainable transport is the backbone of a strong economy. By shifting more passengers from road to rail, we lower costs, cut emissions, and make our transport safer,” Ruto said.
The launch comes against the backdrop of new transport sector data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
However, cargo service revenue dipped from KSh 1.6 billion to KSh 1.5 billion over the same period, underscoring pricing pressures in freight. Meanwhile, passenger traffic on the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) fell from 225,899 in May to 202,715 in June, with revenues sliding from KSh 12.8 million to KSh 11.6 million.
At the Port of Mombasa, total cargo throughput decreased from 3.8 million MT to 3.5 million MT between May and June. Export volumes rose slightly from 413,100 MT to 420,200 MT, but imports dropped from 3.1 million MT to 2.7 million MT. Transshipment traffic, however, grew from 269,800 MT to 333,900 MT, signaling rising regional trade flows.
