- Title: Kenya inaugurates Chinese-built railway linking port to capital
- Date: 31st May 2017
- Summary: ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FIREWORKS AT LAUNCH OF TRAIN CONTAINERS AT PORT TERMINAL TRAIN PULLING CARGO MADARAKA EXPRESS CABIN CREW ATTENDING TO PASSENGERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR GENERAL AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK, GABRIEL NEGATU SAYING: "As Kenya moves towards industrialisation, the cost of transport and the cost of power are the two binding constraints. So, now that the power has been dealt with and continues to be dealt with, this was the last straw and with this in place now the economy of the region will definitely realise a positive spin off." NAIROBI, KENYA (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) MADARAKA EXPRESS ARRIVING AT NAIROBI TERMINUS PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA CUTTING RIBBON AT TERMINUS TERMINUS SIGN LIT UP READING (English): "WELCOME TO NAIROBI TERMINUS", SURROUNDED BY LIGHTS AND PEOPLE PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA PLANTING TREE AT TERMINUS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYAN PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA, SAYING: "This inaugural journey on our new Madaraka Express marks a transformative moment for Kenya and also for the great continent of Africa." PASSENGERS DISEMBARKING FROM TRAIN
- 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: LVA0026J6758N
- 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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