President Uhuru Kenyatta will commission the first phase of the Standard Gauge Railway in Mombasa on May 31.
Senior Chinese officials will attend the launch, State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said on Sunday.
“In the past few years, China has been a loyal partner in our transformation agenda, particularly on physical infrastructure,” he noted.
Esipisu said Uhuru will officiate an event at the SGR’s container terminal before taking the inaugural ride from Mombasa to Nairobi.
“The President will make stopovers along the way to commission some of the new stations,” he said.
Uhuru is expected to address residents along the SGR route.
“The President strongly believes that infrastructure is at the core of development, growth and creating an opportunity for young people,” Esipisu said.
“That is why when he was invited by President Xi Jinping to Beijing for an infrastructure conference last week.”
While at the conference, Uhuru reached an agreement on new partnerships with China. These are expected to further support the development of critical infrastructure in the country and beyond.
The President secured $3.59 billion (Sh370 billion) from China’s Exim Bank for construction of the Naivasha-Kisumu SGR line.
The money will also be used in the rebuilding of a modern port in Kisumu, a project he envisioned will create more jobs.
Phase one of the railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi cost Sh327 billion.
Source link-the-star.co.ke
