I don't think anyone is against SGR, let's just make sure we're paying reasonable price for it. It's an expansive investment so it's ok to pay close attention to everything.

The SGR project is good for the economy. The problem is simple. No government or any individual anywhere in the world ever asks the suppliers to do their own feasibility study, give their own quote and get awarded the contract. Its simply illogical especially when we compare the costs to similar projects in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Ethipoia and Kenyas cost seems more than double this.

http://www.a4architect.c...ipoia-vs-nigeria-costs/

What i would like to see Uhuruto Govt do is simply give us the feasibility report then let us make our independent judgement as to why the costs are higher. Maybe they have valid points and maybe they dont. All we want is technical info. Without technical info, all we can do is compare the kenyan SGR to others in the region.

Its generally accepted that the cost of sgr anywhere in the world is in the range of at least over kes 150m per km. The kenyan costs are much higher than the generally accepted range. Personally, i would like to know in detail why the cost is this high, not the shallow expalanations given by Eng. Kamau and Nduva Muli. Eg. when he says some part passing through tsavo is elevated, i would like toknow exactly how many km. When he says some parts have bridges, i would like to know how many bridges. When he says some land will be acquired, i would like to read the feasibility report that analysed that the rail cant pass through already gazeted railway reserve and if excavations plus bridges are to be constructed along the existing line, their number ,cost compared to cost of acquiring new land etc etc.

This guy is suggesting we borrow from the same guys who even do not approve of the railway.. I am not disputing what they have done in terms of development but sometime if you let them have their way you will take 50 years to do so.. In that 50 years time, we should not be talking about SGR but should be doing bullet trains..

In my opinion the economic benefit out-way any hindrance and argument everyone is trying to point out.

So many what ifs' "What if the Chinese make good their plan and build the mother of all ports in Bagamoyo? What if the cargo doesnt increase?" arguments that any economist has to think about, but does that qualify to be an argument to hang on to an archaic rail? Why should we wait for the Bagamoyo port to be realized instead of making the port irrelevant before its construction begins?

He makes alot of sense in his Lappset argument, a project he helped conceptualize, which is as important as the northern corridor, but neglecting Msa for Lamu will drive our neighbor customers to the port at Dar so fast. Anyway....the WB would NOT give us that money he quotes there because they already said they dont see the need of the rail.

Ndii's theory if applied may result in the same loop-sided one area{Central Province} concentration of infrastructure that Kenya needs to avoid ...clearly Lappset will open up other regions ..the current gavanas of the counties from Thika to Nanyuki can work on the existing rail Land(tracts if they still exist)for light train et al..from Thika to Nanyuki independent of Lappset awashane na Lappset kapsaaa