Mombasa commuter train promises economic lift, jobs and cheaper travel

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The launch of the Mombasa commuter train between the Island’s central railway station and Miritini SGR station is set to transform business and mobility for thousands of residents. 

With an expected daily capacity of 4,000 passengers, the service is billed as a game changer for traders and workers commuting between the city and the Standard Gauge Railway line.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government had invested Sh6 billion in rehabilitating the metre gauge railway, building new mini-stations at Shimanzi, Changamwe East, Changamwe West and Miritini, and constructing a pedestrian bridge over the Makupa Causeway.

 He said the project was part of efforts to ease congestion in Mombasa and boost trade.

President William Ruto, who presided over the launch, described the new commuter service as a step towards empowering Mombasa residents economically. 

“We have ensured fares are kept very low so that every Kenyan can travel. The cost from Mombasa town to Miritini is just Sh50, and a full journey from Nairobi using SGR and the commuter rail will not exceed Sh1,000,” he said.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir told residents not to forget the government’s support for the Coast region, likening the relationship to a woman in labour who may resent her husband in the moment but reconciles once the child is born.

 “When you make it easier for people and their goods to move, you build the economy. Human beings tend to forget. But I remind myself and remind you not to forget this,” he said.

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho echoed the message, saying the Coast region was finally seeing inclusion under President Ruto. 

“In the past we watched others benefit. But now, the government of President William Samoei Ruto is working for us too. When I say his name, respond ‘two-term’,” he urged, leading a chant in support of the president’s re-election.

At the event, Mvita MP Mohamed Machele pressed the president to ensure local youths are given jobs in running the new commuter service. 

He also raised concerns over water pipes that were damaged during construction of the line, calling for urgent repairs to restore clean water to affected households. 

The president assured him that the government would prioritise youth recruitment from the region and instructed agencies to fix the broken water pipelines without delay.

The project carries deep historical meaning. More than 130 years since the first iron tracks of the Uganda Railway were laid in Mombasa, the Coast city is once again at the heart of a transport transformation. 

Over the years, the metre gauge railway fell into disrepair, leaving gaps in urban mobility. 

Now, with modern rehabilitation and integration into the SGR network, residents see a service that could cut commuting costs, improve business efficiency, and spark new opportunities around the stations.

For many in Mombasa, the train represents more than transport. It is a symbol of long-awaited investment in the region, a bridge between the old and new, and a promise that inclusion in national development has finally arrived on track.