WATCH: Impact Of SGR On Lives Of Kenyan Truck Drivers More Than 10 Years Later

Journalist Edwin Okoth has unveiled a groundbreaking documentary exploring the effects of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) on the livelihoods of truck drivers in Kenya.

The documentary investigates key clauses in the agreement between Kenya and the People's Republic of China (PRC) and examines the SGR’s role as a crucial transportation mode from Nairobi to Mombasa.

While the SGR has been heralded as a significant advancement in infrastructure, concerns have emerged regarding its unintended consequences for the trucking industry.

Since the completion of the railway’s first phase in 2017, which links the Port of Mombasa to the country's interior, there have been critical developments.

Screengrab of interviewees in the newly-released SGR documentary. /EDWIN OKOTH

In 2018, the Kenyan government mandated that all containerized cargo entering Mombasa port be transported via the SGR. This policy shift has led to the closure of over 10,000 trucking businesses, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs for truck drivers and loaders, as well as the shutdown of numerous related businesses.

“The negative impact felt by the business community and the truck drivers underlines the importance of proper public participation before such mega projects are rolled out. Kenya should take the lessons from the SGR seriously and avoid a similar mistake in such projects in the future," Okoth explained.

Through extensive research and firsthand accounts, Okoth captures the struggles and challenges faced by those affected by this transition. The documentary presents a compelling narrative that underscores the human impact of infrastructural progress and invites viewers to reflect on the broader implications for livelihoods in Kenya.

Okoth has previously written groundbreaking stories about the SGR contract in the Kenyan media and focussed his thesis on China-Africa relations in his MA thesis at Columbia University in 2018.

Watch the documentary below:

Look Back

During his tenure at the Ministry of Transport, CS Kipchumba Murkomen announced that Kenya began to receive 50 wagons meant for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to bolster the operations of the Madaraka Express Freight Service. He termed this a key milestone for the country and the region as it seeks to improve rail services and efficiency. 

"For Kenya to remain competitive we must continue to improve our transport infrastructure. The Ministry will, therefore, ensure we have the necessary human capital, operational assets and information systems for achieving these goals," stated the CS in part on February 5, 2024.

The new wagons, some of which were revealed to be used to transport perishable products, were part of Kenya's strategic response to market dynamics, and the need to meet the ever-changing customer demands and gain a competitive edge.

This was the first time new wagons were added since the launch of SGR in May 2017 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

20 of the wagons procured were to also have power plugins to enable the movement of refrigerated containers, a hitherto untapped business potential for SGR, a move that was likely to pose competition to private trucking companies.