Kenya Railways begins moving imported cars by rail to Nairobi

Tuesday 10th November 2026

By inAfrika Newsroom

Kenya Railways has started carrying imported vehicles between the Port of Mombasa and Nairobi by standard-gauge rail. The first run left Mombasa on 29 October with 21 vehicles and reached the Inland Container Depot at Embakasi within eight hours, according to the operator.

The cars travelled on four wagons made for vehicle haulage, alongside 34 flat wagons loaded with shipping containers. That arrangement lets the railway move cars on the same train as container freight.

Managing Director Philip Mainga set a target of 700 vehicles a month in the operator’s 2 November announcement. Kenya Railways said the service can handle several makes of vehicle and offers insurance, securing the vehicles on wagons and customs processing. The announcement did not give a published timetable.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reported that the service also offers an onward connection to Naivasha. The first shipment described by Kenya Railways ended at Embakasi.

The service adds another type of cargo to the same corridor where a dedicated CMA CGM container train began operating in a separate launch. The port remains the starting point for both services, with vehicles and containers handled at the inland depot.

The new service has prompted discussion in Mombasa about work for casual drivers who deliver imported vehicles by road. A Business Daily commentary on 8 November proposed training and registration for jobs such as loading, inspection and final delivery.

Have a verified news development or story? Send news submissions and supporting materials to news@inafrika.co.tz