A heavy disappointment has been felt ever since it was revealed that the government failed to secure the extra loan in China for the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway all the way to Western.
Opposition leader as well as AU High Representative for infrastructure Raila Odinga accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta to secure an additional Sh 368 billion loan to complete the SGR project.
The loan for the project did not, after all, come through. It is unclear what happened, or when the plans changed but Mr Macharia said Kenya will have to devise other favorable ways to raise funds.
The Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia yesterday said they would focus on completing the SGR line to Naivasha, and link it with the old track to western Kenya and Uganda.
Speaking from China last evening, Macharia confirmed that the deal was not signed. “No, we didn’t (sign the deal). We shall first complete connectivity of SGR and the MGR (Metre Gauge Railway) at Naivasha and then rehabilitate the line to Malaba border. At the same time we shall commercialize special economic zones along the Northern Corridor in order to generate economic returns,” he said.He said the link will be ready by August, adding that the rehabilitation of the old line will coast about Sh 40 billion.
After the news many threw backlash at Raila blaming him for the loan failure calling him bad luck.
In retaliation to save baba’s neck fro disappointed citizens,a bunch of Kenyans have come to his defense saying thank God Raila ensured they did not get overburdened by another huge loan.
