Passenger revenue from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) increased by 39.4% to KSh 4.1 billion despite fewer people opting for the means of transport last year.
- •Passengers transported through SGR declined by 10.3% to 2.447 million, while the passengers transported via Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) declined by 26.9 % to 2.524 million.
- •Freight volumes also dipped, albeit marginally on the SGR, and rose marginally on the MGR.
- •The increase in passenger revenues is attributed mainly to a 50% percent fare hike introduced in January 2024, and could also be tied to the introduction of premium coaches in August.
The decrease in MGR passenger numbers, on the other hand, is attributed to the disastrous flash floods incident on the Kijabe line in April 2024, which resulted in transport on the line being suspended for two months. Service to Kisumu was also suspended indefinitely.
According to Kenya Railways Chairman, Abdi Bare Duale the KR Premium class service is a game changer noting that it will boost the country’s tourism sector. The fare of the Premium class has been set at KSh 12,000 and a return ticket at KSh 20,000.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir says the Premium class will revolutionize rail transport in the country.
“Guided by our vision of providing a world-class rail service, Kenya Railways has elevated the rail travel experience with the introduction of an exclusive Premium Class service,” he said, “These premium coaches are designed with the discerning traveler in mind.”
The volume of freight transported via Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) increased to 1,029 thousand tonnes in 2024 from 1,001 thousand tonnes in 2023. This follows a rise intThe total cargo throughput at the Port of Mombasa by 13.9% to 40,986 thousand metric tonnes in 2024. There was a 23.5% increase in container traffic handled from 1,623.1 thousand Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) handled in 2023 to 2,004.7 thousand handled in 2024.
According to the 2025 Economic Survey, value of output of transportation and storage sector increased by 6.4% from KSh 3,275.6 billion in 2023 to KSh 3,484.9 billion in 2024. Road transport continued to generate the highest value in the transportation and storage sector at 75.1% in 2024 compared with 76.9% in 2023.
The actual amount disbursed for road maintenance increased by 20.1% to KSh 80.1 billion in 2023/24. The number of newly registered road motor vehicles declined by 21.4% to 93,646 in 2024.
There was a 4.7% decrease in newly registered motor and autocycles, and three wheelers to 72,868 in 2024.
The total volume of white petroleum transported via pipeline increased by 4.5% to 8,513.5 thousand cubic metres in 2024. The volume of white petroleum products in transit grew by 8.0% to stand at 3,822.3 thousand cubic metres in 2024.
