Kenya’s tourism and transport sectors are showing a strong, intertwined recovery, with new data revealing a significant surge in both visitor arrivals and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) activity during June.
- •According to the latest report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), visitor arrivals saw a marked increase, climbing from 171,269 in May 2025 to 211,609 in June 2025.
- •The 23.6% growth was not confined to a single entry point, but was distributed across the country’s major gateways with Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa recorded the most dramatic increase of 59.1% to 11,330 visitors.
- •Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the nation’s primary hub, saw a robust 28.5% increase, welcoming 153,958 visitors, and other border points experienced a steady 4.5% rise to 46,321 visitors.
This influx of tourists appears to have a direct correlation with the performance of the SGR. The railway, which connects the capital, Nairobi, with the coastal city of Mombasa, has become a vital artery for both leisure and business travel. The number of SGR passengers grew from 183,359 in May to 226,717 in June, driving passenger service revenue up from KSh 325.9 million to KSh 373.9 million.
While the passenger service prospered, the SGR’s cargo division also saw increased activity, with the volume of goods transported rising from 562 thousand metric tonnes (MT) to 732.5 thousand MT. However, despite the higher volume, revenue from cargo services experienced a slight dip, from KSh 1.6 billion to KSh 1.5 billion. This contrast suggests a potential shift in the type of cargo being transported, but the overall trend remains positive for the railway’s operational efficiency. The combined data from these two sectors provides compelling evidence of a broader economic recovery, with tourism acting as a powerful catalyst for growth across related industries.
According to the report, the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) saw a decrease in performance during June 2025. The number of passengers dropped from 225,899 in May to 202,715 in June. Correspondingly, passenger service revenue also decreased, from KSh 12.8 million to KSh 11.6 million during the same period.
