Why I hold the Gauge Railway Development Personal

I was almost born in a Train. Yes you read it right...I Josiah Adiema Adiema was almost born in train during a journey my mother and my older siblings took from Kisumu on 28th February 1981, arrived in Nairobi in the morning of 1st March 1981 and that same evening took another train to Mombasa. Along the way to Mombasa, labour pangs confronted her but being the strong woman she is, my mother Peninah endured to arrive in Mombasa and delivered me in a hospital on the morning of 2nd March 1981. 

Explanation as to how I was almost born is definitely not my intent but the Standard Gauge Railway. I had an encounter with the railway journey again in December 24th 2007; interestingly making a return journey to the Lakeside Town (I had of coz traveled out of Mombasa since my birth). This journey by rail was because I did not get a vehicle to Kisumu yet I wanted to be part of the 2007 elections that eventually tainted the image of Kenya.

The Standard Gauge Railway

An example of a Standard Gauge Railway

Recently at a press conference convened at State House, The President H.E Uhuru Kenyatta weighed in and stamped his foot on a project that has drawn both wide praise and criticism. he noted that those against the project are detractors and various interest groups whose interest failed during the tender concession to build the rail line. "Too often in our country these days, the very notion of economic progress; such as we are working to achieve, is persistently threatened by conflict sparked and fueled by commercial interest groups; be they local or international. We remain steadfast in our quest to liberate our people from economic bondage. The Kenyan people are the only interest group that we must serve", he stated.

While speaking, I noticed some sincerity in the President's face and he meant well for the development of this Nation. However, I dare say with conviction that there are people who are not sincere in the Jubilee Government. Their aims and aspirations to me is to make quick bucks and look for every opportunity that they can use to enrich their pockets and that of their cronies. 

That is the only reason why there were sentiments emanating from the very same government that portend to read from the same page.  I heard someone was shouting at the top of his voice how the cost of the railway has doubled but even in our markets today, tell me any ordinary Kenyan who is buying even the most basic commodity like bread, milk or Unga at the same cost that it was in 2012? 

The truth be told, I think the railway construction cost will go up and even now if we hold it off (luckily the Presidents says not letting go) for investigation, the cost shall have increased tremendously upon resuming the construction. 

Thus I believe this is a project this nation must see to its fruition without placing roadblocks on its path. The President also acknowledges that this single project will do the following;

• Reduce the transit time by freight trains from 30 hours to 80-10 hours from Mombasa through to Kigali and Bujumbura. 

• Reduce road damage in the Northern Corridor since most goods will revert to rail transport and thus eventually saving this nation a lot in terms of road maintenance expenditure.

• Reduce transit Transportation Tariff charges from KES 17.2 to KES 7.2 per Tonne/  Kilometer

• But above all, it will it enhance the aspiration to attain Vision 2030 which is the economic blue print for Kenya.

Besides, the standard gauge railway line allows for increased capacity for more goods and passengers. This means that a journey that took my mum two days in 1981 and took me the same number of days in 2007 will be reduced to 5 hours between Mombasa to Kisumu by 2017. Loosely translated, this means that one can literally wake up in Mombasa, come to work in Nairobi and actually make it to the NCBD faster than someone who leaves Utawala or Rongai at 6.00 am for the same NCBD due to traffic jam then eventually arriving back to Mombasa in the evening in time to have dinner with his/her family. It will offer job opportunities, offer business chances even to that lady who will be cooking meals to the casual labourers along the lines of construction

I hold this project dearly personal because next time, I do not want to catch the faster bus to Mombasa but opt for the fastest means that this rail transport promises to offer. I also hold this project dear to my heart because of the magnitude of "my" money involved. While the President acknowledges that this KES 447.5 Billion project is a government- government deal, one thing he was not open with is that you and me will bear the cost of this project on behalf of our government in as much China has almost solicited its side of the money needed. 

Yes, it is also true that our beloved President was not bold enough to tell us that according to the Central Bank of Kenya figures, the nation's current debt level estimates (by December 2013) stands at KES 922.37 Billion; meaning by the time this deal is done, we will surely hit the Trillion figure and this debt is heaped heavily even on the shoulders of my unborn baby let alone the 2 year old son JoeKlein who still fumbles to call me daddy.

This is a project that must at all costs succeed for our livelihoods depend on it directly or in-directly. For example did you know that out of the original 8 Provinces, this line will pass through 7 of them; Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, Central, Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western. I believe who ever opposes this project must be our mad man that our market has offered us. As he affirms, "We have detailed time-frames for the delivery of this railway. 

We intend to meet those time-frames". This I believe my government must do for it owes Kenyans nothing less. The powers that be must also not get riled by the people trying to pick out the devil in the details of this Mega East African single most project. For in this way then, the project will never be a white elephant of the Jubilee Government.