DESIGNA MAGAZINE DESIGNA ISSUE III 2019 2 | Page 38

the GOK contribution was 10 per cent. �e Government
has already set up a Railway Development Levy (RDL) to
raise funds for the project by instituting a 1.5 per cent levy
on imports.
�e contractor mobilized work on the railway which
commenced immediately thus actualising the timeline
whose completion was set as June 2017.
But what entails development of the �rst phase of the
SGR line? �e �rst phase of the project included
development of a new rail different from the current meter
gauge line between Mombasa and Nairobi and the
attendant infrastructure. It will also involve the acquisition
and commissioning of rolling stock to ensure the creation
of a complete railway transport ecosystem that is ready for
operations on the day it is commissioned.
�e project was gargantuan one to say the least and
presents many challenges were to be overcome. Foremost
there was excitement and support of Kenyans, especially
those who would be affected by the actual construction of
the SGR. In this regard, the implementing agency, KRC
and the Ministry assured the communities along the path
of the railway line that their interests was to be paramount
before, during and after the construction period.
Cooperation between the contractor and the local
communities was crucial and so is the involvement of
The Mombasa Nairobi SGR is the biggest
infrastructure project in Kenya since
independence. It has shortened the
passenger travel time from Mombasa to
Nairobi from more than ten hours to a
little more than four hours.
The frieght trains will complete the
journey in less than eight hours
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County governments. �e Ministry and Kenya Railways
Corporation in collaboration with the Kenya Private Sector
Alliance (KEPSA) organized a SGR Symposium on 16th
June 2014 for local contractors and business community.
�e objective of the symposium was to engage the private
sector on available investment opportunities and how best
to tap them during and post-SGR construction.
Other areas covered during the symposium include local
content i.e the opportunities for Kenyans to supply goods
and services to the contractors. Such participatory approach,
experts say this was crucial for the success of the project.
�e �rst phase of the SGR project the was a pace setter for
the other phases and for this reason, successful management
of the issues surrounding the initial development to
determine the entire success of the projects the region. �is
meant that issues regarding land compensation and
construction were then handled with care. And all players
like the Ministry, KRC and National Lands Commission
(NLC) consulted on the matter of land acquisition and