- Title: Kenya inaugurates Chinese-built railway linking port to capital
- Date: 31st May 2017
- Summary: MOMBASA, KENYA (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** KENYAN PRESIDENT, UHURU KENYATTA WAVING FLAG AT MADARAKA EXPRESS STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY
- Embargoed: 14th June 2017 20:41
- Keywords: Kenya Nairobi Mombasa railway transport trade China infrastructure express China Road and Bridges Corporation
- Location: MOMBASA AND NAIROBI, KENYA
- City: MOMBASA AND NAIROBI, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA0016J6758N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Kenya inaugurated a $3.2 billion railway funded by China linking the capital Nairobi to the port of Mombasa on Wednesday (May 31), the country's biggest infrastructure project since independence more than 50 years ago.
The railway is part of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, a multi-billion dollar series of infrastructure projects upgrading land and maritime trade routes between China and Europe, Asia and Africa. The line is eventually expected to connect Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Ethiopia to Mombasa so the Indian Ocean port can act as a gateway to East Africa for trade with China and other nations.
The express will slash the time for the 472 km journey to about four hours from 12 on the line built by British colonialists more than a century ago.
The new railway was Kenyatta's pet project and it was a key pledge in his 2013 election campaign. He christened the new line the "Madaraka Express", named after the June 1 holiday that marks the day in 1964 Kenya won self-governance from Britain ahead of full independence.
The opposition has criticised the new line, however, accusing Kenyatta's ruling Jubilee Party of inflating the cost and siphoning off public funds, a common accusation in a country where corruption is rife. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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