The utilization of the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) trains along the Nairobi-Kisumu and Nairobi-Nanyuki routes surged in 2023, more than doubling from the preceding year, reflecting both economic hardships and a preference to evade congested road traffic, particularly during holiday periods
According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), approximately 165,784 passengers traveled on these routes in 2023, a figure exceeding twice the count recorded in 2022. Among them, 68,784 passengers utilized the Nairobi-Kisumu route, while 97,000 commuters opted for the Nairobi-Nanyuki route.
December saw a notable surge, with the Nairobi-Kisumu route witnessing a 130% rise in passengers, totaling 25,205 in December 2023 compared to 10,961 in December 2022. Similarly, the Nairobi-Nanyuki route experienced a 248% increase, accommodating 26,226 commuters in December 2023 compared to 7,547 in the same period of the previous year.
The heightened demand prompted Kenya Railways to augment the frequency of trips from one to two per week along these routes.
This shift towards MGR transportation can be attributed to the fare structure, with tickets priced at KES 900 and KES 400 for economy class to Kisumu and Nanyuki respectively. This presents a more cost-effective and stable alternative to matatus, whose fares often surge, especially during peak demand periods.
The Nairobi-Kisumu MGR route generated KES 39.9 million for Kenya Railways, while the Nairobi-Nanyuki route generated KES 13.3 million.
