Atanas Maina Kenya Railways managing director.[Photo/The EastAfrican]Kenya has given up on plans for electrification of the standard gauge railway (SGR) line between Mombasa and Nairobi, acknowledging its high costs and irregular power supply.Atanas Maina Kenya Railways managing director said on Thursday prior research had shown little demand for electric trains in Kenya.The government had earlier planned a Sh49 billion electric upgrade before 2021 and ahead of Uganda linking its SGR line to the Kenyan one.“Electrifying this line also depends on our ability as a country to finance that kind of infrastructure,” said Mr Maina.
"It was something that we would love to have, however, the country does not have a dependable source of electricity.”China Road and Bridge Corporation, which was appointed to build the Mombasa-Nairobi line, will be offered Sh327 billion or Sh49.05 billion more to upgrade the line.The design of the SGR rail line allows for the addition of a single electric line.Mr Maina argued that electrifying the line would enhance the speed of the railway, but could not take Kenya to speeds of up to 250km per hour seen in developed nations such as China, Germany and UK.“Those trains are designed for passenger movement in countries where the focus is to move millions of people. I do not think the demand exists in this country now,” he said.