The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is set to begin operations of the long-awaited Mombasa Commuter Rail Service, with President William Ruto set to officially commission the project on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The new service covers about 14 to 17 kilometres, connecting the Mombasa SGR Terminus in Miritini to the Mombasa Central Business District (CBD), making stops at Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, and Mombasa Central Station. It offers commuters options such as “Park and Ride” or “Drop and Ride.”
Costing approximately Sh4.2 billion, the project includes building new passenger stations, rehabilitating 16.6 km of metre-gauge railway and constructing a 2.3-kilometre railway bridge across Makupa Causeway.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar have pledged that the service will significantly reduce road congestion, especially for thousands commuting between the SGR terminus and Mombasa Island daily.
The rail line is projected to serve around 4,000 passengers per day upon launch.
Earlier inspection tours confirmed that all major works have been completed and testing has been successful. The commuter rail is hailed as a key piece in Mombasa’s urban transport transformation, linking the national rail network to local mobility.
The project, which began in September 2022, stalled midway due to land acquisition challenges.
However, the government, through the Ministry of Transport, allocated Sh1.1 billion to the National Land Commission (NLC) to compensate affected landowners before the project resumed.
