China and Kenya To Sign Contract for Phase 2 of Standard Gauge Railroad in Beijing

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

China and Kenya To Sign Contract for Phase 2 of Standard Gauge Railroad in Beijing

Aug. 28, 2018 (EIRNS)—Kenya and Chinese companies will sign contracts to begin the second phase of the new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) on the sidelines of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit on Sept. 3-4 in Beijing. The new line with extend the railway from Nairobi to Kisumu on Lake Victoria. China Communications Construction Company is the main contractor for the SGR.

Speaking in Mombasa Aug. 23 at the Architectural Association of Kenya annual convention, Kenya’s Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said:

“We shall be traveling to China on the first week of September for the FOCAC summit and we shall sign the Sh380 billion ($3.8 billion) contract for the second phase of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu.”

The development of a new port at Kisumu on Lake Victoria will facilitate water transport to Uganda and Tanzania. Currently only small ships, less than 1,000 tons and mostly old ships are active on the Lake.