Kisumu rail services to resume by December after 2024 flood damage
The line had been severely damaged by heavy rains last year, causing widespread disruption in passenger travel and freight movement.
Passengers and cargo services along the Kisumu route are set to resume by December 2025, following the near completion of restoration works on the Uplands–Kijabe–Longonot Meter Gauge Railway (MGR), Kenya Railways has confirmed.
The line had been severely damaged by heavy rains last year, causing widespread disruption in passenger travel and freight movement.
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In a statement released on Monday, Kenya Railways said the rehabilitation is now 70 per cent finished and is on track to reopen by next month.
"In April 2024, unprecedented rains and severe washaways damaged sections of the Uplands–Kijabe–Longonot Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) line, disrupting rail services and affecting both freight and passenger movement along the corridor," the statement read.
"Kenya Railways is proud to report steady progress in the restoration of this critical MGR infrastructure, which is currently over 70 per cent complete, with a target to reopen the line by December 2025."
The restoration project has involved several major interventions, including the construction of new cell culverts, strengthening embankments, upgrading drainage channels, and improving the overall durability of the line to handle future weather challenges.
When the floods hit in April, at least five stretches of the railway between Rironi and Longonot were washed out, halting the movement of cargo from Mombasa to Uganda and affecting thousands of travellers.
Speaking at the time of the disaster, former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen highlighted the massive scale of the destruction and the financial investment required for repairs.
"We have not done the total computation, but as you can see, the destruction is massive and so we require a sizeable amount of investment to restore it," Murkomen said, estimating the cost at around Sh1 billion.
Kenya Railways noted that the restoration of the line will not only resume the Kisumu Safari Train service but also strengthen trade and travel within the Lake Region.
"When it reopens in December, the MGR will restore a key connection between the Central and Western regions, paving the way for the resumption of the Kisumu Safari Train, which will enhance travel, trade, and tourism across the Lake Region," the statement said.
The reopening will also allow freight services to restart, facilitating efficient movement of goods to Western Kenya, as well as transit cargo to neighbouring countries such as Uganda and South Sudan, consolidating Kenya’s position as a transport hub for East and Central Africa.
The Kisumu Safari Train, a key passenger service linking central Kenya to the western counties, is expected to bring back both convenience and economic opportunities, strengthening the Northern Corridor and improving regional connectivity.
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