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A new report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger train carried fewer passengers in 2024 compared to 2023
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The report shows that 2,447,000 passengers used the SGR in 2024, compared to 2,729,000 passengers who used the train in the previous year
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The drop in the number of passengers who used the train during the period under review has been attributed to an increase in ticket price, which went up 50%
Bonface Kanyamwaya, a journalist at .co.ke, has more than 10 years of financial, economy, business, markets and aviation expertise, providing insights into Kenya and global trends.
The number of passengers who used the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) dropped by 282,000 in 2024 compared to a similar period in 2023, a new report shows.
Data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) on Tuesday, May 6, shows that in 2024, 2,447,000 passengers used the SGR, which was a 10.3% drop, bearing in mind that some 2,729,000 passengers used the train in the previous year.
“The increase in revenue was mainly due to a 50% fare hike implemented in January 2024,” said the report seen by
.co.ke
in part.
SGR revenue increase
Despite the drop in passenger numbers, revenue rose significantly by 39.4% from KSh 2.94 billion to KSh 4.099 billion.
Even though fewer people rode the trains in 2024 than before, the total was still greater than what was seen back in 2022.
In 2022, a total of 2,392,000 passengers traveled via the trains operating routes like those between Nairobi and Mombasa.
In 2024, the figure stood higher than the number of people who utilized the train service in 2021. Specifically, 1,993,000 individuals rode the SGR in 2021. Nonetheless, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the SGR transported only 812,000 passengers, marking the minimum ridership over the past four years.
Cargo volume drops
The 2025 Economic Survey also indicates a decline in the volume of cargo shipments recorded in 2024.
The data indicates that the volume of cargo transported through the SGR dropped from 6,533,000 tonnes in 2023 to 6,531,000 tonnes, representing a drop of 0.03%.
Nevertheless, the figures for 2024 exceeded the amount of cargo carried by the train in 2022. That year, the freight volume was recorded at 6,090,000 tons.
In contrast, the amount for 2021 stood at 5,407,000 tonnes, which was less than the previous year. Conversely, the quantity of goods moved in 2020 amounted to only 4,418,000 tonnes, marking the smallest total within the past four-year span.
KRC takes over 98% of SGR operations from Chinese operator
In the meantime, KRC will assume complete control over the entire SGR operations from Africa Star Railways Operation Company by the close of this year.
Currently, 98% of SGR operations are handled by KRC as it aims to increase the involvement of locally skilled Kenyans in managing the trains.
KRC management has recently verified that railways account for approximately 3% of Kenya’s gross domestic product.
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