8 Jubilee Governors to Give President Uhuru Kenyatta Sh100 Million

Eight Jubilee Party governors have vowed to contribute Sh100 Million each to President Uhuru Kenyatta's government to fund a Sh25 Billion railway project.

The Governors made the pledge after attending a consultative meeting at the Maiyan Resort in Nanyuki County.

The County bosses include Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu), Wahome Gakuru (Nyeri), Mike Sonko (Nairobi), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Mohammed Abdi Kuti (Isiolo) and Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua).

Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina, who was present at the meeting, stated that the project would involve the rehabilitation of a 240-kilometer line from Nairobi to Nanyuki in Laikipia County.

[caption caption="Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina"][/caption]

Mr Maina noted that the railway infrastructure was still intact but dilapidated in some sections. 

He stated that the money would be used in upgrading the track and buying new locomotives as well as wagons.

The governors also announced plans to extend the railway to Isiolo town at a later date, with a view to linking it up with the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport ((LAPSSET) corridor.

“The Sh100 Million pledged by the county governments is a show of commitment to the project. The national government is expected to finance the project, with support from development partners,” Maina stated.

“Currently, the railway is what we call the 50-pound-load type, which is only capable of carrying three light locomotives. We intend to upgrade it to 80-pound load so that a single train can carry 1,400 tonnes of goods,” he added.

The railway service is expected to spur economic growth in the Mt Kenya region through boosting of inter-county trade in agricultural and livestock produce.

[caption caption="A barrier where the 240Km Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line ends"][/caption]