New railway planned to boost Lamu-Sudan link

[John Ashworth]

New railway planned to boost Lamu-Sudan link

By MUCHIRI GITONGA mgitonga@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, December 29 2011 at 19:43
Daily Nation

The government plans to extend the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line to Isiolo so as to link the planned Lamu-South Sudan railway line and open up the region.

Announcing the plan at Nanyuki, Transport minister Amos Kimunya challenged the business community in the region to make use of the railway line.

“The railway service has to be driven by demand. It’s up to the local people to generate business,” he said.

The Lamu-South Sudan railway line is part of the Lamu-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPPSET) corridor expected to open up northern Kenya and stimulate economic and social development.

Beyond the railway line, the LAPPSET project also comprise a modern port facility in Lamu, road, pipeline and a fibre optic cable linking Kenya with Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan.

A Japanese company is currently carrying out feasibility study on the project, with Chinese firms showing interest in funding and construction.

The Nairobi-Nanyuki railway route, together with the Nyahururu-Gilgil line, were useful in the first two decades of Independence as they were mainly used to transport live animals from northern Kenya to the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) in Athi River.

But the business floundered with the collapse of KMC.

The minister said that once meat deliveries are revived, KMC will be protected from vandals who have been targeting disused facilities for scrap metal.

“We must look at the bigger picture and preserve the (railway) line and assess all business options,” Mr Kimunya said...

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Lamu to Sudan sounds good to me!

But I do not understand the Lamu bit seeing as how there is no rail that side?????? Or have I missed something?

[John Ashworth]

Oh, you have been out of circulation, Kevin! Plans to build a new deep-water port in Lamu and a communications corridor to Juba with standard-gauge railway, road, pipeline and fibre-optic cable!

Actually the title is wrong since it is a link to South Sudan, not Sudan.

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Wah. And the last tie I went to Lamu you could only get there via dhow. No vehicles on Lamu. Only place to stay - Pettleys.

I tink I had better not try and go back!