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Kenya launches new railway to reach South Sudan and Burundi Kenya launches new railway to reach South Sudan and Burundi
(35 minutes later)
Kenya has formally launched a new, Chinese-financed railway which should extend across East Africa to reach South Sudan, DR Congo and Burundi.Kenya has formally launched a new, Chinese-financed railway which should extend across East Africa to reach South Sudan, DR Congo and Burundi.
The first section will link the Kenyan port of Mombasa to the capital, Nairobi, reducing the journey time from 15 hours to about four.The first section will link the Kenyan port of Mombasa to the capital, Nairobi, reducing the journey time from 15 hours to about four.
The cost of the railway will be $5.2bn (£3.2bn) - mostly funded by China.The cost of the railway will be $5.2bn (£3.2bn) - mostly funded by China.
Some Kenyans have complained that the contract was given to a Chinese firm without going to tender.Some Kenyans have complained that the contract was given to a Chinese firm without going to tender.
'Flagship project' 'Historic milestone'
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed the deal in August in Beijing.Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed the deal in August in Beijing.
It is also hoped that the railway will reduce congestion in Mombasa, one of Africa's busiest ports.It is also hoped that the railway will reduce congestion in Mombasa, one of Africa's busiest ports.
After the Nairobi section is finished, with completion due in 2017, it will be extended through Uganda, with branch lines west to Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo, south through Rwanda to Burundi and north to South Sudan.After the Nairobi section is finished, with completion due in 2017, it will be extended through Uganda, with branch lines west to Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo, south through Rwanda to Burundi and north to South Sudan.
Passenger trains will travel at a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), while freight trains will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h.Passenger trains will travel at a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), while freight trains will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
President Kenyatta said the railway was one of the flagship projects of this government's ambitious Vision 2030 initiative to improve much-neglected infrastructure. "What we are doing here today will most definitely transform... not only Kenya but the whole eastern African region," President Kenyatta told crowds at the ceremony, calling it an "historic milestone", the AFP news agency reports.
"The project will define my legacy as president of Kenya and it is my personal desire that the implementation is done to the standard," he said in a statement. "As a result East Africa will become a competitive investment destination," the agency quoted him as saying.
Mr Kenyatta met officials on Wednesday from the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the Chinese state-owned company building the railway. Earlier, he said the railway was one of the flagship projects of his government's ambitious Vision 2030 initiative to improve much-neglected infrastructure.
During the meeting, he thanked the "Chinese government for the massive infrastructural projects in the country", which "reduced the cost of doing business and created employment through increased investments", the president's statement said. "The project will define my legacy as president of Kenya and it is my personal desire that the implementation is done to the standard," he said in a statement on Wednesday after meeting officials from the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the Chinese state-owned company building the railway.
He also thanked the Chinese government for the "massive infrastructural projects in the country", which "reduced the cost of doing business and created employment through increased investments".
Kenya would be working closely with Uganda and Rwanda during the first phase, which would boost ties between the neighbours, he added.Kenya would be working closely with Uganda and Rwanda during the first phase, which would boost ties between the neighbours, he added.
"Kenya will fully meet its obligations towards the project. I will personally oversee its implementation," Mr Kenyatta said."Kenya will fully meet its obligations towards the project. I will personally oversee its implementation," Mr Kenyatta said.