China $4.6b railway deal to test Kenya’s relations with Uganda

In2EastAfrica ^

[AfricanChristian]

Chinese construction company, China Roads and Bridge Corporation, has successfully lobbied Kenya to pull out of a bilateral agreement signed with Uganda in October 2008. The agreement committed the two neighbours to co-operate on the building of a modern railway link between the port of Mombasa and Kampala. If the proposal by China Roads is accepted, it will not only precipitate diplomatic tensions, but force Uganda into seeking partnership with Tanzania and Rwanda to develop an alternative standard gauge railway link through the Central corridor in Tanzania. On October 28, 2008, presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Mwai Kibaki of Kenya at State House, Nairobi, made an official declaration that the two countries would build a high capacity standard gauge railway link between them. Subsequently, a bilateral agreement was signed by the respective ministries dealing with railways on October, 2, 2009 — with the countries committing to a seamless modern railway between them. Kenya was — from its own resources — to build a standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Malaba, with Uganda building the link to Kampala. Last year, Kenya went ahead and provided money in its annual budget to fund preliminary designs and an environmental impact assessment. Technical teams from the Kenya and Uganda governments worked together to harmonise the terms of reference for the feasibility studies in line with what had been agreed on under the bilateral agreement.

[decimon]

Under the Chinese proposal, Kenya gets a rail line from Mombasa to Nairobi but not then further to neighboring countries. The neighboring countries will then connect themselves through an alternate and competing rail line.

If that is so then I don’t see the benefit to Kenya. To some Kenyan officials, surely, but not to Kenya.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks AfricanChristian.

[Fred Nerks]

...and here we have a train near Nairobi in Kenya...

[SunkenCiv]

I’m getting a substitute graphic, “No Hotlinking Please”. Boy, that server is a sorehead, eh? ;’)

[Fred Nerks]

There you go...you GOTTA READ 'Dark Star Safari' by Paul Theroux. Africa from Egypt to Capetown, on buses, trains and overcrowded vehicles...and the odd cattle truck. He starts out a democrat and ends up in tears.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Fred Nerks.