Construction of railway resumes after design truce

Construction of the new Mombasa-Nairobi railway has resumed after the Chinese contractor and the supervising consultant agreed on the design of the mega project that had led to suspension of works.

Kenya Railways (KR) managing director Atanas Maina says the two parties have now agreed to work with the design that had been developed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

A consortium of supervisors hired by KR to review the design and supervise the Sh447.5 billion project had differed with CRBC over the design of culverts, prompting a freeze of construction.

“The temporary suspension has since been lifted after the two parties agreed to adhere to the set requirements and submitted the requisite information and documents,” said Mr Maina.

“The design that the Chinese are using is not what Kenyan engineers have used before and this was the main bone of contention in this project,” he said.

For instance, said the KR chief, Kenyans use steel in making culverts while the Chinese prefer concrete. Mr Maina says both can be used.

The new standard gauge line will supplement a slower narrow gauge network run by Rift Valley Railways that now only runs to Uganda whereas the new one will reach Rwanda and South Sudan, in part of efforts to cut the hefty costs of trade within East Africa.

READ: Why China is keen on the standard gauge railway project

Countries in the region rely on poor roads and the rickety narrow gauge line built in the 19th century.

Kenya has previously said the new railway will cut freight costs to 8 US cents a metric tonne (1.1 tonnes) per kilometre from 20 cents now.

China Road’s appointment to construct the initial Kenyan leg of the new line was met with widespread criticism that there was no competitive tendering for the work.

The first leg to Nairobi estimated at 471km is set for completion in 2017. Mr Maina says the contractor will remain on site for another year to work on emerging defects within the corridor.

The contractor is on course to meet the 2017 deadline, he said, adding that 10 per cent of the work has been done.

“The suspension was not as a result of any structural safety concerns, quality or design defects but just a harmonisation of the standards.”