Kenya Railways Corporation has announced a significant uptick in cargo haulage on the revitalised Metre Gauge Railway network, attributing the surge to the rehabilitation of the century‑old tracks and deployment of modernised rolling stock.
According to Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, cargo volumes on the MGR soared by 21 per cent from approximately 797,000 tonnes in 2022 to nearly 1.96 million tonnes in 2023 demonstrating the impact of strategic investment and rehabilitation efforts.
The increase has been bolstered by the introduction of 500 new freight wagons, including 200 tailored for MGR use, each boasting a 64‑tonne capacity well above the older models’ 36‑tonne limit.
These wagons, flag‑shipped in early 2024, have enabled the railway to handle larger consignments and offer a more competitive alternative to road transport.
In tandem, Kenya Railways also repowered three heavy‑haul locomotives with Rolls‑Royce MTU Series 4000 engines, enhancing fuel efficiency, reliability and load‑handling capacity along the Naivasha–Kisumu MGR corridor.
These interventions coincide with cross‑border freight growth under the East African Railway Master Plan, where MGR serves as a crucial feeder line to both domestic hubs and neighboring markets.
Rehabilitation of key branches and ICD (Inland Container Depot) links, notably at Naivasha, has improved intermodal trans-shipment between MGR and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), facilitating smoother cargo clearance for destinations including Kampala and Kisumu.
While the SGR continues to register gains with a 7 per cent rise in cargo haulage in 2023 and a 40 per cent leap year‑on‑year in Q1 of 2025 (from 1.3 million to 1.82 million tonnes) the revitalised MGR line is proving a complementary powerhouse, adding resilience and flexibility to Kenya’s freight infrastructure.
Kenya Railways managing director Philip Mainga emphasised that the combined capacity upgrades and engine refurbishments align with broader strategic goals to reduce port dwell times, unclog road networks, and attract long-term freight contracts.
The increased wagon fleet, combined with improved locomotive performance, positions Kenya Railways to meet growing demand with reliability and efficiency.
Economists and infrastructure experts note that the resurgence of MGR once sidelined in favor of the new SGR is providing important lessons: upgrading existing rail assets through refurbishment can deliver outsized benefits at constrained cost.
As Kenya positions itself as a regional logistics hub, the dual system of MGR and SGR offers scalable freight pathways servicing both domestic and transnational trade corridors.
With over 1.9 million tonnes now traversing the revitalised MGR network and sustained expansion anticipated, Kenya Railways is charting a course toward a more integrated, cost-effective and eco‑friendly cargo transport model.
Written By Ian Maleve
