Kenya Railways workers at the site of a train that derailed in Kibera, Nairobi. The corporation will relocate some families living in Kibera and Mukuru kwa Njenga to prevent flooding of the railway line during the rainy season. Photo/File
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The move is intended to open them up to prevent flooding of the railway line during the rains.
Kenya Railways will relocate about 11,000 families living in informal settlements in Kibera and Mukuru kwa Njenga starting from September.
The move expected to affect families that have build structures on drainage channels is intended to open them up to prevent flooding of the railway line during the rains.
The corporation received a Sh3.9 billion ($45 million) loan from the World Bank for constructing alternative housing units for affected families.
“Floods have always hampered our operations whenever it rained and we believe relocating these families will be a permanent solution,” said managing director Nduva Muli.
The State corporation also said it has set aside Sh6 billion to lay a railway line that will connect the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the Central Business District.
The corporation is putting finishing touches on the Imara Daima and Makadara stations, with 80 per cent of the work complete. The two are expected to start operating late this year.
The Imara Daima Station will serve more than 2, 000 commuters a day from Industrial Area, Embakasi and Mombasa Road and will have a parking space for more than 150 cars.
The Makadara Station will serve more than 5, 000 commuters a day and will have a parking space for 500 cars. The station targets commuters from Buru Buru, Jerusalem, Jericho, Uhuru, Hamza and Jogoo Road.
The Business Daily has learnt that the corporation has embarked on marketing its products outside the country in a bid to rope in foreign investors.
This follows the signing of a Joint Development Agreement with InfraCo Africa in 2009 that gave the parastatal leverage to bring on board potential investors.
Kenya Railways projects a positive growth outlook as it aligns itself with the real estate sector. Mr Muli said the corporation had set aside more than 100 acres of land for property development.
“We acquired 10 acres in Syokimau in 2009 and a further 100 acres in Imara Daima. We recently added seven more acres in Makadara all set for the construction of high-end commercial complexes, shopping malls and supermarkets,” Mr Muli told the Business Daily.
Mr Muli was upbeat that the corporation would expand its turnover this year given last year’s pre-tax profit of Sh1.2 billion despite stiff competition from public service vehicles.
Kenya Railways said plans were underway to procure additional wagons owing to increased commuters who now prefer train services. It was also considering moving to modern Diesel Multiple Units, which are fuel efficient and environment friendly.
