Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is set to assume full operational control of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) by December 2025, marking a significant shift in the country’s rail transport sector. While KRC has already taken over 98% of SGR functions, key areas remain under the management of the Chinese firm Africa Star Railway Operation Company (Afristar), delaying complete local control.
Initially, KRC planned to complete the full transition by May 2022. However, this deadline was later extended to June 2025 and has now been pushed further to December 2025. According to KRC CEO Philip Mainga, the delay is due to unresolved technical matters that require additional time to address.
“People have been asking so many questions, and I can now confirm we have successfully taken over from the Chinese, reaching 98 per cent. By December 2025, we will be at 100 per cent,” Mainga stated.
Despite this progress, Afristar still controls several critical operational functions, such as signalling system management, dispatch coordination, freight management, and key operations at Port Reitz and Nairobi Terminus. These functions are vital to ensuring the efficiency and safety of railway operations, and their continued management by Afristar reflects the technical complexity involved in the transition.
Afristar was awarded a 10year contract to operate and maintain the SGR, covering the Mombasa- Nairobi -Naivasha route spanning 592 kilometers. While Kenya has gradually taken over various operational aspects, Afristar has maintained control over key strategic functions, underscoring its influence in the railway’s administration.
The contract included an interim review after five years, during which Kenya sought to accelerate the takeover process. Although Kenya Railways has trained and employed many Kenyans in different roles, Afristar initially retained a significant number of Chinese workers in critical positions such as locomotive drivers and dispatchers.
By June 2021, KRC had taken control of functions such as ticketing, security, and refueling. However, some technical aspects, particularly locomotive safety, remain a challenge. “We have a few technical skills, including the safety of the locomotives, that we need to address, but this will be completed by December 2025,” Mainga noted.
The planned full takeover comes at a time when the Madaraka Express, the flagship passenger service of the SGR, is experiencing a decline in passenger numbers. Between August and September 2024, ridership dropped from 281,683 to 175,901, leading to a significant revenue decrease from Ksh440.6 million to Ksh296.4 million. This trend has raised concerns about the financial sustainability of the service and the need for improved strategies to attract more passengers.
Even as KRC works toward full operational control, the government has expressed plans to extend the SGR to Malaba, further integrating Kenya’s railway network into the East African transport corridor. This expansion is expected to enhance trade and connectivity between Kenya and neighboring countries, strengthening the country’s position as a regional transport hub.
The anticipated full takeover of the SGR by KRC marks a crucial milestone in Kenya’s railway sector. However, challenges such as technical skill gaps and declining passenger numbers will need to be addressed to ensure a smooth transition and long-term success.
