Africa Star Railway operation company deputy general manager He Fuhan said on Tuesday that the localization of SGR operations is nearly 80 percent .
Kenyans could soon take over all the operations of the Standard Gauge Railway, the company operating the line has said.
Africa Star Railway Operation Company deputy general manager He Fuhan said on Tuesday that the localisation of SGR operations is nearly 80 percent .
“This has been achieved through technical transfer skills in 123 railway specialities,” he said.
The company launched its report on 1,000 days of SGR operations at Syokimau on Tuesday.
The official said as localisation increases, so does the number of Kenyans in leadership positions.
“Two hundred and fifty two Kenyans work in leadership positions throughout the Mombasa-Nairobi-Naivasha route,” he said.
According to the company, 1,072 Kenyan employees are capable of independently performing their duties as of February 24, 2020.
He said the take over by Kenyans is as a result of the training and professional development opportunities available.
As at February 24, SGR operations had transported over 4.2 million passengers and 750,000 containers.
Huang Qing, a deputy manager with Africa Star said by 2019, they had found 188 standard risks and five serious risks.
As a result, 193 risk control and prevention measures and methods were created and implemented, he said.
Qing said there were 41 monthly average wildlife that crossed the line in 2017.
In 2018, there were 25 monthly average representing 39 percent decline while there were three in 2019 representing 86 percent decline.
Qing said the monthly average railway track theft in 2017 was 49.4 and 11.4 in 2018 representing 77 percent decline.
In 2019, there was 6.8 monthly average railway track theft in 2019 representing 44 percent decline.
The company operating SGR has dismissed 125 employees as of December 31, 2019.
Some 2876 negligence notices and 288 warning letters had been issued.
To ensure passengers are sensitized on fostering safety culture while on board trains, the company says, safety notices have been put inside the trains and train crew are always around.
The company says as at February 24, safety specialists had inspected the entire SGR operations network 269 times.
Africa Star railway operating company deputy general manager Sammy Gachuhi said in the last 1,000 days, there has been no injuries or loss of lives.
"We have ensured that operations run smoothly by providing adequate workforce. The workforce has all times provided continuous maintenance to locomotives, wagons, coaches and the track, " he said.
Gachuhi said they ensure regular track inspection using advanced track inspection vehicle and digital flaw detector.