President Uhuru Kenyatta takes impromptu train ride in Naivasha [Photos]

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday afternoon made an impromptu visit to Kisumu Port to inspect the ongoing construction of the MV Uhuru 2 ship at the dockyard.

President Kenyatta had dedicated the day to inspect the Naivasha Inland Container Depot, the Kisumu Ship Yard and the new Mbita bridge.

At the ICD, the President witnessed the trans-shipment of container cargo from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) and took a train ride from Naivasha to Longonot.

President Uhuru Kenyatta takes impromptu train ride in Naivasha Pulse Live Kenya

In Kisumu, he landed in three Kenya Air Force military helicopters at the Port at around 2.40pm in the afternoon then proceeded to the dockyard to inspect the ongoing construction of the MV Uhuru 2 Ship.

The ship is being built from scratch by the Kenyan Navy in collaboration with a dutch company.

President Uhuru Kenyatta takes impromptu train ride in Naivasha Pulse Live Kenya

The president was accompanied by the Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces General Robert Kibochi among other military and government officials.

The president also addressed Mbita residents who turned up to welcome him, telling them that he was keen on ensuring a peaceful and united country and hinting at a return to the area in the company of ODM Leader Raila Odinga.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing residents of Mbita Pulse Live Kenya

Development projects

Nyanza and Western regions have benefited from the handshake between President Kenyatta and Odinga.

Other than the renovation of the Kisumu Port and Mbita Bridge, the train route linking Naivasha ICD to Malaba has already been completed.

Kenya Railways conducted its maiden cargo train from Mombasa to Malaba near the Kenya Uganda border on Monday, January 10, 2022.

In a statement issued on Monday, January 10 Kenya Railways explained that the train carrying the cargo left the Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway line and arrived at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot.

The cargo was then transhipped onto the metre gauge railway line for onward transportation to Malaba.

“Today's event paves the way for seamless transportation of cargo from Mombasa to Kenya's hinterland and to neighbouring countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Congo among others.

“The cargo is on transit to Malaba Railway Yard for onward transportation to Kampala. From Mombasa to Malaba Railway Yard, cargo will take 36 hours compared to road transport which takes 96 hours. Similarly, it will cost $860 (Sh97,000) per TEU compared to road which costs $2,032 (Sh230,000) per TEU,” Kenya Railways said in a statement.