Kenya's first female SGR driver wins Chinese speech competition

Kenya's first female locomotive driver Concilia Owire has won the 2023 'The Belt and Road: My China Story Speech' competition. 

Owire was declared winner on Friday after she presented her speech on her China story during the Belt and Road: My China Story Speech Competition Final which was held at the Radisson Blu hotel in Nairobi. 

The 29-year-old works as the Assistant Manager and Passenger Locomotive Driver at Afristar Railway Operation Company.

Owire, who is also an electrical engineer, said her journey to being a locomotive driver started in 2016 when she got a scholarship by CRBC to study Locomotive and Rolling Stock Engineering. 

"I grabbed the opportunity and I decided I will be the first Kenyan female locomotive driver and drive the train beyond Kenyan boarders," she said. 

She proceeded to China for her studies. 

"You can just imagine the excitement I had, this was gonna be my first time in China, so I was all over the internet just searching about China, their transport network, I really was looking forward to it," she said. 

Not only did the opportunity grant her a door for technology transfer, but she also learnt the Chinese culture. 

This was when the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR railway had just concluded.

Owire then returned to Kenya for the launching of the SGR on May 2017, which she was honoured to be the main driver of the maiden trip with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his successor William Ruto being on board.

At the time, Owire was only 23 years old. 

"When I was appointed to drive the train, I was so happy, yet so nervous, because my desire of being the first Kenyan female locomotive driver was dependent on it and every Kenyan was looking forward to see the operation structure of this new technology," Owire said. 

On her maiden trip from Mombasa to Nairobi, Owire knew many eyes were on her and she found it to be pressurising. 

"But I endured it, because I knew this was my moment. When I stopped the train safely at Nairobi terminus, I actually cried, I knew I did it, I made myself proud, my country and my instructors were proud of me. That moment will always be engraved in my heart forever," she said. 

The inception of the railway transport in Kenya dates back to the 19th century, but it was not until the commencement of operations of the Kenyan SGR that Kenya had its first female locomotive driver. 

Second rrize winners were Gisemba Gloria from China Road and Bridge Corporation and Jeanne Ong'iyo from Moja Express Way. 

Third prize winners were Mirriam Kirimi from China Energy International Group Company Limited, Maureen Kobia from Afristar Railway Operation Company and David Maina from China Aerospace Construction Group.

The competition also had an Excellent Award which was scooped by Brian Mwangi from AVIC International Holding Corporation, John Mwangi,  Teresiah Muthee from Stecol Corporation Power China and Anne Maluki. 

The 10 finalists out of 60 participated in the Chinese speech competition which was organised by Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association. 

They were each given 10 minutes to give speeches on how Kenya-China relations have impacted them.

Kenya-China Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Shakeel Shabbir said he was proud to meet the first female driver of the SGR. 

"Today I'm very proud to have met the very first Kenyan female train driver of SGR. And I am proud to say she comes from Western Kenya. It is a great thing," he said. 

Shabbir said the competition also comes as Kenya and China celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, a strategy initiated by the People's Republic of China that seeks to connect Asia with Africa. 

BRI was aimed at improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.

He said in the 10 years of Kenya-China relations, a lot of benefits have been felt. 

"We now have the SGR. What took us 12 hours, now takes us four to five hours to get to Mombasa," Shabbir said. 

2023 also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kenya and China. 

Further, Shabbir said there is a new tribe in China which came as a result of China-Kenya relations. 

"We have the Luo-Chin. They are the Luos of Chinese origin. And I think they will be given Chinese citizenship when they want. So I think things are changing, and  they will continue to change," he said.  

Shabbir spoke during the speech competition which came as a tribute to the exceptional contributions made by 22,676 Kenyan employees of Chinese enterprises who have tirelessly worked towards strengthening Sino-Kenyan relations.

In Kenya, the Chinese hand is seen in not only the SGR, but also in various road transits including the Dongo Kundu Bypass in Mombasa,  the Nairobi Expressway; and most recently, in the manufacturing and deployment of electric buses.