THE LONG MODERNIZED METALLIC SNAKE

Hello beautiful people. Welcome again to my blog. So today it’s all about the Standard Gauge Railway and its effects to the Mombasa economy. Don’t forget to leave a comment. Thank you. God bless.

                                               Photo courtesy of internet railway journal

It all started in 1896 where the first railway was built in Kenya at the Port city of Mombasa. It went all the way to Kisumu and later on to Uganda[http://krc.co.ke/?page_id=216]. The line was a huge logistical achievement and became strategically and economically vital for Kenya, linking the Indian Ocean with Lake Victoria and the East African interior. Branch lines were built and the railway became an essential part of safari adventures in the early decades of the 20th Century.

Few years down the line the Standard Gauge Railway was built from Mombasa to Nairobi. It’s purpose being helping the people of Mombasa and those wanting to travel faster. Now has it really helped the economy of Mombasa?

The Government has lost more than 126 billion dollars of its revenue from Mombasa County since the introduction of the freight trains. Sixty percent of workers in the Container Freight Stations were fired over the same period of time. This will definitely lead to loss of money that could have been found from taxation.[ https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/-SGR-freight-service-killing-the-Coast-economy/539546-5274252-ylfvs4/index.html]

Mombasa county will also fail to collect more than Sh17.3 billion due to closure of various businesses in the city while a number of businesses such as fuel stations, hotels and lodges along the Northern Corridor will be affected due to lack of patrons.
“We have been negatively affected as the report has clearly stated; that is why we shall take any action to ensure the directive is stopped since it is not based on any law,” said Mr. Joho[https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/-SGR-freight-service-killing-the-Coast-economy/539546-5274252-ylfvs4/index.html]. This research was carried out by Professor Ogeng’o from the University of Nairobi. The research was led by Mr. Ken Ogolla, also from the UoN. To sum up all this, the negatives outweigh the positives.