Muhoozi, Kenyatta meet, launch container depot

Jan 13, 2022

Kenyatta is the son to the former Kenyan founding President Jomo Kenyatta while Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba is the son to President Yoweri Museveni.

Kenyatta is the son to the former Kenyan founding President Jomo Kenyatta while Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba is the son to President Yoweri Museveni.

Charles Etukuri
Senior Writer @New Vision

GEN MUHOOZI | KENYATTA | CONTAINER DEPOT 

NAIVASHA - Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations and Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba joined Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for a visit to the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD).

At the ICD, Kenyatta and Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba witnessed the trans-shipment of container cargo from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR).

“I thank my great big brother, President Uhuru Kenyatta, for inviting me to my second home Kenya, to join him in the inauguration of the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha. A strong East Africa is the only way to go!” Kainerugaba tweeted.

On Monday, Kenya Railways in a statement noted that, they had successfully run the first trial train with cargo from Mombasa which arrived via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line and was transshipped onto the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line for onward transportation to Malaba.

“The transhipment took place at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot. The cargo is now set to be transported to the Malaba Freight Yard for onward transportation to Kampala. 

From Mombasa to the Malaba Railway Yard, via Naivasha ICD, cargo will take 36 hours compared to road transport which takes 96 hours. Similarly, it will cost $860 (sh3m) per trip compared to road which costs $ 2032 (Sh7m) per trip,” Kenya Railways said.

The statement further noted that the Monday event paves the way for seamless transportation of cargo from Mombasa to Kenya's hinterland and to neighboring countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Congo among others.

The Standard Gauge Railway was a planned railway system linking the Kenya to the neighboring countries of Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda. 

Construction hit a snag following financing challenges and heavy costs and Kenya only constructed the SGR up to Naivasha.

In May this year, Uganda and Kenya joined forces to push for the rehabilitation and of the old metre gauge railway line. 

Kenya revamped its metre gauge railway line from Naivasha to Malaba while the Ugandan government is also revamping its line.

This will be the second time the two leaders are seen together publicly. 

In September last year, Lt Gen Kainerugaba paid a courtesy call to President Kenyatta as he returned from his working trip in Somalia.

"I consider him my elder and an inspirational and great leader in Africa," Gen Kainerugaba said of the Kenyan president.

Gen Kainerugaba and Kenyatta could be seen sharing a hearty conversation in a photo shared.

In a tweet in June last year, Gen Kainerugaba expressed admiration for the Kenyan leader, noting: "Afande Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. President of Kenya and a very great man. Nobody can stop reggae! God bless him." 

The message was decorated with the Kenyan leader's photo flashing the 'thumbs up' gesture.

Kenyatta is the son to the former Kenyan founding President Jomo Kenyatta while Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba is the son to President Yoweri Museveni.

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