VOI–TAVETA RAILWAY REHABILITATION HITS 40% — KENYA EYES BOOST IN CROSS-BORDER TRADE
Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
Kenya Railways MD Philip Mainga inspects works on the 120-kilometre railway line as project advances towards reconnecting Taita-Taveta County and Tanzania.
The Voi–Taveta Railway Rehabilitation Project has reached 40 per cent overall progress, marking a significant milestone in efforts to restore rail connectivity, improve transport efficiency and unlock cross-border trade opportunities between Kenya and Tanzania.
Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip J. Mainga, EBS, on Tuesday led a site inspection to assess progress on the rehabilitation works, which are advancing along the 120-kilometre railway corridor.
The progress has been driven largely by ongoing works on the railway subgrade and cross-drainage structures, which are essential to strengthening the railway infrastructure and supporting safe, reliable rail operations.
Once completed, the project is expected to improve the movement of passengers and goods while stimulating economic activity and creating employment opportunities for communities along the railway corridor.
FIVE RAILWAY STATIONS SET FOR REHABILITATION
The rehabilitation project includes railway stations at Voi, Mwatate, Bura, Maktau and Taveta.
The upgraded stations are expected to improve access to rail transport for residents, businesses and traders across Taita-Taveta County, while strengthening connections between local communities and regional markets.
The railway branches off from Voi Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) Station on the Mombasa–Nairobi main line, running southwest across Taita-Taveta County towards Taveta, near the Kenya–Tanzania border.
KENYA–TANZANIA TRADE IN FOCUS
A key strategic component of the project is the planned connection at Taveta to Tanzania’s railway network through the Holili border crossing.
The link is expected to create new opportunities for cross-border trade, facilitate the movement of goods and strengthen regional economic integration.
Improved railway connectivity could also support businesses by providing an additional transport option for moving commodities, accessing markets and connecting production centres with regional trade routes.
LOCAL ECONOMIES EXPECTED TO BENEFIT
Beyond transport infrastructure, the project is already creating employment opportunities and supporting economic activity within communities along the corridor.
As rehabilitation works continue, the Voi–Taveta Railway is expected to contribute to more efficient transport, expanded commercial opportunities and sustainable economic growth in Taita-Taveta County and the wider East African region.
The achievement of 40 per cent progress marks an important stage in the railway’s rehabilitation, with the project’s long-term impact expected to depend on the completion of the works and the effective integration of the line into regional transport and trade networks.
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