The revamped
old Mombasa Railway Station. Photo/John ChesoliPresident William Ruto is next week expected back in Mombasa to launch several multibillion-shilling road and railway projects, marking yet another phase of the government’s spirited upgrade of infrastructure at the Coast.
Ruto is expected in Mombasa from September 17 to lead the commissioning of the projects.
The Head of State, who was in Mombasa last week to open the Mombasa International ASK Show, is scheduled to commission the revamped old Mombasa Railway Station, which has undergone a Sh6 billion facelift.
The investment includes a critical last-mile connector linking the Standard Gauge Railway terminus in Miritini to the old town station, designed to ease passenger flow between the mainland and Mombasa Island.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who inspected the project ahead of the President’s visit, said the line has already received heavy investment in infrastructure and supporting facilities.
“There’s been significant investment in this last-mile connector to ensure that customers arriving at the SGR station are able to get a seamless connection into the island. The line itself has cost us Sh3.4 billion, with the rest of the funds going into supporting facilities,” Chirchir said.
The CS said the government is targeting to move up to 4,000 passengers daily through the upgraded link, a development expected to significantly reduce road congestion, particularly around Changamwe and the busy Northern Corridor route that connects Kenya to Uganda and Rwanda.
Chirchir further revealed that the government is keen on replicating the last-mile connection model in Nairobi, linking Syokimau SGR terminus to the Nairobi Railway Station to boost efficiency and accelerate uptake of railway transport.
The President is also expected to commission the Mariakani–Kwa Jomvu road project, with special focus on the Miritini interchange bridge that has remained incomplete for eight years.
The interchange is seen as a vital artery in easing the perennial traffic snarl-ups along the busy highway leading into Mombasa.
“Miritini is a high-density area with many small traders who come into town daily to do business. Connecting them efficiently is in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, supporting small traders and boosting local enterprise,” Chirchir explained.
The CS added that the government has unlocked several road projects that had stalled due to land compensation disputes, including the Mombasa–Mtwapa section.
He revealed that up to Sh4 billion has been released to settle outstanding claims and allow contractors to speed up works along all major roads in Mombasa.
With the commissioning of the Miritini interchange and the SGR–Mombasa line, Chirchir said Mombasa’s infrastructure landscape is undergoing a major transformation.
He said this will not only ease movement of goods and people but also enhance the port city’s competitiveness as a regional hub.
