President Ruto announced the construction of a new branch line from Voi to the west, crossing the border through four stations in Tatavita and reaching Holiri, Tanzania. About 5 billion Kenyan shillings, equivalent to approximately 39 million US dollars in construction funds, have been reserved for the long-awaited East African railway map to be completed soon.

Going west to Woyi Tuntan

The new line is planned to have four stations along the route, namely Mwatat, Bula, Mwakitao, and Tavita, before entering Holiri on the Tanzanian side. After completion, a direct passage from Mombasa Port to northern Tanzania and further inland markets was formed. The route also serves as customer freight transportation, and residents of Mohi can take trains directly to Nairobi and Mombasa. This corridor is not unfamiliar. There was originally a meter gauge railway from Voi to Mwarat to Tavita, which connected Kenya and northern Tanzania, but it was shut down for nearly 20 years due to long-term disrepair. In April 2026, Ruto initiated reconstruction with an investment of approximately 5.5 billion shillings, equivalent to approximately 42.9 million US dollars, and planned to build an inland dry port in Voi to restore the trade corridor between Mombasa, Voi, Tavita, and northern Tanzania.

Interwoven network runs through East Africa

The Kenya Standard Gauge Railway is constructed by CCCC and has a total length of 592 kilometers, covering the first phase of the Mombasa Nairobi Railway and the Nairobi Malaba Railway. It connects the natural deep-water port of Mombasa with the capital Nairobi and relies on Chinese technology, equipment, and standards for construction and operation. It is not only Kenya's first modern railway since independence, but also the largest infrastructure project in the country and a representative project in East Africa. The Naivasha Kisumu Malaba section of the second phase of the Naima Railway is currently under construction. After completion, the entire route from Mombasa Port to the Uganda border will be connected by standard gauge. The standard gauge railway on the Tanzanian side is promoted by sections. The owner is Tanzanian Railway Company, and the contractors are mainly Türkiye and Chinese enterprises. Keywords: Standard Gauge Railway, East African Corridor

YapiMerkezi of Türkiye led the construction of the first to fourth bid sections of the eastern section. The CRCC and CCECC consortium undertook the construction of the Isaka Mwanza section and the fifth to sixth bid sections of the Tabola Kigoma section. The CR2G and China Railway Design consortium undertook the construction of the Uwenza Malagala West section and the seventh to eighth bid sections of the Malagalasi Musongati section in Burundi. The line extends to Mwanza, Kigoma, and finally reaches Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Editor/Min Jing