Officials from Etihad Rail and the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) met with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in Mombasa this week to discuss strategic cooperation in freight rail development and share best practices in network management.
Etihad Rail, tasked with building and operating the United Arab Emirates’ national railway system, is seeking closer collaboration with Kenya as the country pushes to modernise and expand its rail infrastructure.
KPA’s General Manager for Cargo Operations, Sudi A. Mwasinago, said recent upgrades to operational systems and equipment have already improved port efficiency. He added that such investments are key to integrating port and rail operations for smoother cargo movement.
Memorandum of understanding
The meeting follows a memorandum of understanding signed in May 2025 between Etihad Rail and KRC, witnessed by President William Ruto and the UAE’s Foreign Minister, to enhance cooperation in railway operations and management. Etihad Rail’s Saqqaf Alattas said the partnership will see the UAE operator share technical and operational expertise with both KPA and KRC.
Kenya plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and on to Malaba, with the aim of linking more efficiently to South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The existing SGR, completed in 2019 at a cost of $5 billion, connects Mombasa Port to Naivasha via Nairobi.
The government intends to raise $4 billion for the extension by securitising an import levy, and the Ministry of Transport has confirmed ongoing talks with Etihad Rail over the potential operation of freight services on the SGR once the expansion is complete.