Some Kenyans Say Chinese-built Railroad Leaves Them Out

[John Ashworth]

Some Kenyans Say Chinese-built Railroad Leaves Them Out

The sound of insects fills a former train station in the Kenyan town of Kiu, a two-hour drive from Nairobi.

The train station, built during British colonial rule, was closed in 2012. Now, old railroad sleeper cars lie in the grass around the building.

The 6,000 people who live in the area did not lose just their train station eight years ago. They stopped using rail service. They depended on the old train to get to their jobs or the nearest hospital. Traveling by road in this part of eastern Kenya can be slow and costly.

Just 500 meters from the old station, the Chinese built a new rail line. Its high-speed trains pass through Kiu every day, but they do not stop at this forgotten town...