87 construction teams have arrived in Kenya from China to ensure the construction of the Standard Gauge railway in Kenya begins September this year. Also included from the China is 2000 pieces of equipment in readiness of the start of the project.
This was revealed on Monday this week in a meeting between President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta and Wen Gang, the Assistant President of China Communication Company. China Communications and Construction Company took the chance to update on the construction of the Standard Gauge railway in the country.
The China Communication Company also said that it will be partnering with local companies in a bid to boost Kenya’s steel manufacturing industry. Kenyatta said he welcomed and appreciated the support from the private sector to develop Kenyan infrastructure.
The president said Jubilee Government recognized the importance of infrastructure improvement in growing economy. He said all international companies should embrace working with local companies in project implementation in the country.
Wen also said that 2,464 Kenyans had been recruited for the initial work of construction the Standard Gauge railway in Kenya. The project is also expected to help in technology transfer and skills impartation to the locals such that Kenya will be able to manufacture Standard Gauge Railway project components locally. 30,000 locals will be recruited and 40 percent of work sub-contracted to local companies at the peak of the Standard Gauge Railway project.
The railway will run from Mombasa to Kampala and then Kigali, Rwanda. China Communication Company also said they would deliver quality work on the Standard Gauge Railway project which they took as very important.
