Kenya Railways back on Gilgil-Nyahururu line

By Staff Writer

Kenya Railways is betting that a 96-year-old railway line abandoned for nearly half a century can once again become a viable transport corridor for freight and passengers, as the state corporation targets moving more than 5,000 tonnes of cargo and over 1,000 passengers per trip on the newly revived Gilgil–Ol Kalou–Nyahururu route. The revival comes as the government seeks to increase the role of rail transport in a logistics sector dominated by trucks. While road transport offers flexibility and extensive reach, rail remains attractive for moving large volumes of cargo over long distances at lower costs, especially for bulk commodities.

Freight volumes on the metre-gauge railway have risen nearly 70% over the past four years, from 644,000 tonnes in 2021 to 1.08 million tonnes in 2025, while passenger numbers increased to 2.73 million last year. Last week, Kenya Railways delivered over 1,000 tonnes of government-subsidized fertilizer to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots in Ol Kalou and Nyahururu through the route. The counties served by the line are among Kenya’s most productive agricultural regions, supplying potatoes, wheat, carrots, cabbages, milk and other produce to domestic markets. Kenya Railways has indicated that several major cargo players including fertilizer distributors, cement manufacturers, dairy processors, and logistics firms have expressed interest in using the line.

If such cargo volumes materialize, the route could evolve into a freight corridor serving both agricultural and industrial users. If they do not, the railway may face the same commercial pressures that contributed to its decline decades ago. For passengers, Kenya Railways is attempting to attract demand through relatively low fares. Economy-class tickets from Nairobi to Nyahururu have been set at KSh600, with fares of KSh550 to Ol Kalou and KSh450 to Gilgil.

Short-distance travel along the corridor is priced even lower, with some segments costing as little as KSh50. The pricing suggests the corporation is prioritizing ridership growth and network utilization as it seeks to reintroduce rail travel to communities that have gone generations without passenger train services.

The challenge will be convincing travellers to choose rail in a market transformed by decades of investment in roads and public transport. Kenya Railways also said the corridor will improve connections with the Naivasha Inland Container Depot, potentially allowing freight from central Kenya to move more efficiently through the national rail network. Constructed during the colonial era and operationalized in 1929, the Gilgil–Nyahururu line was originally built to move agricultural produce, livestock and passengers from the central highlands.

Over time, however, deteriorating infrastructure and the growing dominance of road transport eroded its competitiveness. Its return reflects the government’s belief that rail can once again play a meaningful role in moving goods and people across the country. Whether that ambition succeeds will depend on the ability to generate consistent freight volumes and build a sustainable customer base in a transport market that has changed dramatically since the railway last operated.