Kenya Railways re-advertises Sh65bn major rail upgrade tender

A Kenya Railways Service train/ KENYA RAILWAYS

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KR) has re-advertised a tender for the supply of 24 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) air compressors after a previous procurement process was cancelled.

On April 28, KR cancelled an international tender for the 24 air compressors for DMU trains funded under the World Bank’s Sh65 billion Kenya Urban Mobility Improvement Project.

The agency has now published a fresh advert in MyGov, inviting prospective bidders to submit tender documents on or before June 11.

The project is aimed at upgrading critical components of Diesel Multiple Unit trains, with delivery expected at Kenya Railways’ Central Workshops in Nairobi, as part of efforts to improve urban rail services in the country.

“The Kenya Railways Corporation now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the purchase of 24 No. Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) air compressors to be delivered at Kenya Railways (KR) Nairobi Central Workshops Stores, Kenya,” the public advert reads in part.

It adds: “Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated February 2025 (6th Edition) (‘Procurement Regulations’), and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations.”

KR says all bids must be accompanied by a bid security of Sh1,500,000 in the form of a bank guarantee from a registered commercial bank in Kenya, valid for 240 days from the date of tender opening.

“Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form included in the bidding document,” the notice adds.

The Nairobi Commuter Rail Service under KR operates modern DMU trains from Nairobi Central Station to various suburbs, providing a faster, more comfortable, and affordable alternative to road transport within the city and metropolitan area.

At the same time, Kenya Railways is seeking consultants for a project on the development of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) for the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA), also under World Bank funding.

The NMA covers the county governments of Nairobi City, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Murang’a.

The main objective of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive SUMP for the NMA to guide the development of an inter-modal and multi-modal urban transport network and the provision of seamless urban transport services.

The assignment is expected to start on October 27, 2026, with a duration of 15 calendar months and an estimated total input of 75 man-months.

“Kenya Railways, (the ‘Client’) now invites eligible consulting firms (‘Consultants’) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services,” a separate advert in MyGov states.

KR is seeking firms with at least 10 years of experience in urban transport planning and the development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans or equivalent integrated transport plans.

Firms must demonstrate experience in at least two assignments of similar magnitude and complexity within the past 10 years. Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa or comparable developing country contexts is preferred.

They should also demonstrate expertise in travel demand modelling, including the development, calibration and application of transport demand models for metropolitan-scale planning.

Additional requirements include experience in multi-modal transport planning, including mass rapid transit systems, public transport reform, non-motorised transport, transit-oriented development and urban freight.

KR also requires experience in strategic environmental and social assessment or integration of environmental and social considerations in urban transport planning.

“Expressions of interest must be submitted in written form to the address below in person, by mail or by email on or before May 29, 2026, at 1100 hours, East African Time (EAT).”