President William Ruto on Wednesday took his maiden ride on the Mombasa commuter rail service, moments after officially commissioning the project at the Mombasa town terminus.
Ruto was accompanied by his Deputy, Kithure Kindiki, and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir boarded the train for the trip to the SGR terminus at Miritini.
It took approximately 40 minutes.
Cabinet Secretaries Davis Chirchir (Transport), Hassan Joho (Mining), Salim Mvurya (Sports), and other senior government officials
The new commuter service is a 13.8-kilometre journey linking Mombasa’s central business district to Miritini with stops at Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, and Mazeras.
Speaking after the ride, the Head of State described it as a new era of affordable, reliable and efficient transport for the coastal city.
He noted that its commissioning offers a daily relief to thousands of passengers who have long battled traffic congestion and high costs.
“This is more than transport; it is connectivity, opportunity, and progress for Mombasa,” Ruto said.
He said the service would not only shorten travel time but also improve road safety, reduce gridlocks and enhance productivity.
“At only Sh50 per trip, this service proves how transformative modern infrastructure can be in improving the lives of our people.”
Passengers travelling to Mombasa usually pay up to Sh800 from the terminus to the CBD.
He added that with a daily passenger capacity of 4,000, the train was a major boost to tourism, business and regional trade.
Governor Nassir praised the project as a game-changer for Mombasa, noting that affordable commuter transport would open up economic opportunities for small traders and workers across the city.
The President said the commissioning was both a historic and futuristic moment, linking Mombasa’s railway heritage with Kenya’s modern transport revolution.
“This is part of our government’s strategy to expand the rail network from Naivasha to Malaba through Kisumu and across the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, securing Kenya’s place as the gateway to Africa,” he said.
