Nairobi, September 15- President William Ruto will officially launch the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service on Wednesday, September 17, marking the completion of a project that began in 2022.
In a notice issued on Monday, Kenya Railways confirmed that the service will simplify travel between Mombasa Terminus and the city’s Central Business District (CBD). “On 17th September 2025, those what-ifs become reality as the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service is set to be officially commissioned by President William Ruto. Mombasa is about to move differently,” the corporation stated.
The Ksh6 billion project, stretching 17 kilometres, is designed to give residents a faster, safer, and more affordable transport option. It will also link passengers of the Madaraka Express from Nairobi to Mombasa’s CBD, with two travel choices: ‘Park and Ride’ and ‘Drop and Ride.’
The route includes stops at Miritini, Changamwe West, Changamwe East, Shimanzi, and Mombasa Central Station. According to Transport CS Davis Chirchir, the commuter train is expected to carry up to 4,000 passengers daily, easing traffic congestion in the coastal city.
The project involved rehabilitating the Mombasa Island–Miritini metre-gauge railway and building the Mombasa MGR station. Kenya Railways MD Philip Mainga earlier explained that the service would finally provide a direct connection between the SGR Terminus in Miritini and the Mombasa CBD a longstanding challenge for commuters.
He noted that once operational, the link train will be available to residents, tourists, and visitors heading into Mombasa.
