Kenyans get training to run railway

The Chinese company constructing the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya said it would transfer more technology and help Kenya train personnel in railway maintenance and operation, as Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta inspected a bridge construction site at the ongoing project on May 26.

According to China Road and Bridge Corp, it has trained about 1,000 of the 5,000 Kenyan workers it plans to train for railway construction and management, including roadbed construction engineers and culvert construction engineers. Currently, CRBC employs 10,889 Kenyans.

The company has been working on building a talent pool for the operation of the railway, training drivers and technical and maintenance personnel.

Lu Shan, general manager of CRBC, said the company planned to send 60 Kenyans to study in China for five years, including a year's preparation for Chinese language and four years study in railway related majors.

The company is still in discussions with the Kenyan government to build a railway training institute in Kenya, Lu said.

Li Juguang, a spokesman for CRBC., said the company, with Kenya Railway Corp and the project supervisor, will make a comprehensive guide for Standard Gauge Railway construction technology and management for Kenya, which could facilitate future projects.

"What we are bringing Kenya is not just a railway, but also advanced knowledge and skills that will help in the design, construction and operation of the railway system," Li said.

Atanas Maina, managing director of Kenya Railway Corp, said he appreciates CRBC for the training of Kenyans.

The trainees may also be able to take part in railway projects in other East African countries to help with the construction of an East Africa network.

According to CRBC, they have finished 28 percent of the roadbed construction for the Mombasa-Nairobi project, 23 percent of the construction of the bridges and 29 percent of the culverts needed along the line, all ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, 87 percent of land acquisitions have been finished.

The project officially started in January and is scheduled to be finished in 2017.

The 472-kilometer Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway will cost up to $3.8 billion, and the Import-Export Bank of China is covering 90 percent of the funding. The ambitious project is expected to boost economic growth in Kenya by 1.5 percent.

houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/29/2015 page3)