More Kenyans are ditching matatus for rail transport on the Nairobi-Kisumu and Nairobi-Nanyuki routes, fresh data shows. This is buoyed by lower fares in a tough economy and the convenience of dodging traffic gridlock on major roads.
Last year, at least 165,784 passengers travelled using Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) trains plying the Nairobi-Kisumu and Nairobi- Nanyuki routes—more than double compared to 2022. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 68,784 commuters used the Nairobi-Kisumu MGR train last year, as 97,000 used the Nairobi-Nanyuki train.
