Ndii's article had me wondering if this is really the best use of Kshs 300 billion to build a railway from Mombasa to Nairobi.
There's some interesting alternatives -
1. We could have built this railway from Lamu to Nanyuki which opens up a part of the country that has been neglected for so long.
2. We could revamp the RVR railway and build a dual carriage way road to Mombasa - that should help reduce the no of accidents & make it faster to drive to Mombasa.
It starts to seem that this railway wasn't well thought out at least from a strategic viewpoint. Or am I wrong?

Yes all the above if the financing was from our own coffers!!!

Wondering whther anybody has the google map of the standard gauge alignment/route.

It seems a dual gauge has worked for others before what would be the implications of going the upgrade route given the following considerations.

a)that the current rail service is already concessioned.

b)would current service be halted, what are the legal implications and penalties to the concession holder

c)the cabinet secretary claimed that the current railway never envisioned high speed trains (120kmh) hence has gradient and bends that would be risky at such speeds.

d)if it is true that high speed rail has to be fenced, how will this pan out in national parks and towns the rail currently passes.

e)if you have several low speed trains on the dual gauge rail how will it impact the high speed trains using the same track.

f)how cost effective is it to panel beat an 19th century rail into a 21st century outfit without compromising efficiency.

I've said previously...any Kenyan consultants are welcome to do the feasibility study at the same cost as the Chinese contractors'....i.e. free. In addition, most of the ultimate bidders could have conducted the same study at the same free cost prior to completion of the tendering process, but they chose not to. Ultimately, the feasibility study will HAVE to be published once the contract is signed as this now becomes govt. property, and hence property of the people of Kenya.

@a4 I agree with you that an Independent feasibility study is the best way to go. But I cant help but think (given the nature of the politics of the day)that it would not achieve it intended purpose of better value for money. It seems to me politically the dispute seems to be who 'ate'.

Indeed David Ndii alluded to the fact that the the costs may not be grossly inflated but the process was flawed.

It is for this reason that I would also agree with @jmbada, that others interested in the project, conduct studies at their expense. So as to weed out those who are not absolutely convinced, that they will save the tax payer considerable sums of money. Indeed the figures mentioned (Ksh1B) may just be another avenue for more 'eating' without adding real value.

We could have a scenario where, a repeat of procurement could result in very insignificant saving, or even an increase in the cost but with less noise, once previously excluded parties are accommodated.

I have seen the comparisons you make on your website and I think you are doing a good job of raising valuation issues, and I think the country should explore all possible ways of getting the railway done in the shortest time possible in the most cost effective way (within reason).

I do believe the country stands to benefit greatly as the opportunities are immense. I have a great deal of respect for David Ndii however I do hold a different view to that of Ndii when he says the project may not be pro poor enough, but that is a story for another day.

Such projects tend to cost more not less when delayed. And on a completely different matter the euro bond is likely to cost more as opposed to the period before the taper when Rwanda issued theirs. Point is timing matters

On a light note this could just be the project to get people to vote on issues not ethnicity if it costs uhuruto their jobs.

@a4 I could not agree with you more.

There is need for people like you to be in decision making positions in govt. maybe you should consider this or encourage your like minded friends to join govt in positions that matter.

the reason I say this is because as it stands now, govt. is convinced that they are on the right path. the principle sec. the cabinet sec. even the president seem completely smitten with SGR.

Much like a man who is intent on marrying the love of his life, but his friends and family have misgivings. It may be an exercise in futility to expect him engage the services of a P.I. at his cost. It might be more fruitful if friends and family spared sometime and/or money to gather evidence and present it to him and hope he makes the right choice.

Govt. seems to be in this position they don't see what they have done wrong or about to do wrong. It is for friends (other companies or even governments) and family (local professionals and citizens at large)to help gather that evidence (feasibility study). Present it and hope the right choices are made.

Let me hasten to add that asking other Chinese contractors to do a study is not ideal but as you said this things cost money. Govt is reluctant to act. This brings me to my next suggestion. Would you consider taking this issue on as a patriotic citizen.

I humbly request you hear me out for a sec. How about some serious civic duty (not Kimunya style rage). Suppose someone were to rally local professionals to volunteer their services for love of country.

As you eloquently pointed out it is high time Kenya believed more in its own professionals. It spends huge resources training them only to engage others in significant projects.

Maybe it is time also, that the professionals demanded better recognition from their country. Picketing could be one option, though we all know how most of those end. I would humbly suggest a different approach.

What is the probability that local professionals could chip in, in their areas of expertise. Indeed as you have said you already have a friend who is working on a similar project in Ghana. How feasible(no pun) is this approach, where the country's enlightened would shine their light for the benefit their motherland(and wanjiku).

Should we accept and move on, or is there hope. @a4 would you be interested in mobilising fellow professionals to provide an alternative to the govt. single minded (single sourced) approach. Is the mantra of home grown solutions to home grown problems only applicable to the icc.

That said and done. I believe as many do we need the SGR, how it has been approached, looks 'shifty'. If there is a speedy way of resolving the questions, by all means it should be done.

My bet is that, resolution won't come from govt. For as long as those with better ideas are the minority or in non influential positions, I think it is best to 'kaza mshipi na kusonga mbele'. We look to our best minds (well meaning professionals) to take the lead. These plots are hatched by pretty intelligent people (local professionals). That is why mwananchi's only hope is that, their sons and daughters whom they sent to school to do the right thing.

Those seasoned in construction industry know of one fact - Never ever be at the mercy of the contractor. He would mess you 99.999% of the time.
Seriously, this contractor should be given back all what he has given out under the table / spent even if it is 100B - then we go for competitive feasibility study & bidding. We will save much more by doing that.

What will be the passenger fare from Nbi to Msa once the line is operational?

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000103526