On the Right Track

A freight train runs on an extension of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway on July 5 (XINHUA)

By Derrick Silimina

It’s 4 a.m. and Julius Kamau is leaving his house to start his day as a taxi driver operating out of Kenya’s port city of Mombasa. 

Kamau picks passengers arriving at the Mombasa Terminus of the largest seaport in Kenya by the new China-built Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line. Mombasa is a favorite holiday destination for tourists, especially during weekends, holidays and the festive season.  

“This railway infrastructure is of great importance to us. In the past, most of us local taxi operators used to get fewer bookings; but now the SGR brings more commuters. It has also shortened the travel time from Nairobi to Mombasa,” Kamau told ChinAfrica.   

A game changer 

A landmark project of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kenya, the SGR has revolutionized mobility, connectivity and commerce in East Africa’s largest economy.  

Gertrude Kitonga’s boutique store, which is located in Nairobi’s central business district, has recently become popular due to the classic clothing that comes from China and is delivered on time thanks to the SGR’s speedy transportation and clearance process. 

The 35-year-old mother of two is delighted because her consignment of cargo that arrives at the Mombasa seaport each month-end gets delivered to her shop within two days, making her business thrive. 

“My business is now booming due to SGR’s efficient cargo clearance system, as my goods are delivered within a week, while in the past it took 30 days using heavy commercial vehicles like trucks, due to delays in cargo clearance at the port city of Mombasa,” Kitonga said. 

Arguably, the SGR’s operational efficiency for small-scale traders in the East African country ensures that cargo importation is a viable and profitable venture, hence revolutionizing transportation of goods between Mombasa and Nairobi as it offers faster, safe, reliable and convenient service. 

According to the SGR operator, Africa Star Railway Operation Co. Ltd. (AfriStar), the 480-km rail line linking Mombasa and Nairobi was built by China Road and Bridge Corp. and officially opened to traffic in 2017. The state-of-the-art rail system has ferried over 6 million passengers between the two cities since its launch in 2017 till October 31, 2021.  

With six passenger trains on average and 17 freight trains operating along the Mombasa-Nairobi corridor on a daily basis, AfriStar is pleased that the railway has reduced journey time while guaranteeing safety of commuters and bulk cargo. 

“Our construction quality has been fully proven over the past five years since the modern railway facility was launched,” AfriStar General Manager Li Jiuping said recently. 

The SGR is indeed transforming lives for the better even more than what was expected in Kenya. The Kenya Railways has since affirmed that the investment in SGR is bearing fruit, citing an increase in revenues of local small and medium enterprises. 

“We believe that the SGR is poised to recover the investment Kenya has put in it in the long run,” said Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga. 

In terms of bulk cargo transportation, it is estimated that in 2021 alone, the freight train has transported 382,000 20-foot equivalent units as of October 31, hence enhancing the safety of cargo and protecting pristine habitats along the corridor.  

“We have a team that identifies cargo at the port of Mombasa that has been imported by small traders destined for Nairobi, and it is given priority on the SGR,” Mainga said, adding that his company has since partnered with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Alliance of Kenya in order to ease the transportation of cargo along the SGR. 

Trade experts say SGR’s special rate of 54,000 Kenyan shillings (about $450) for transporting 20-foot containers between the port of Mombasa and the Nairobi Terminus is favorable when compared to the road transport which costs at least $800 on the same route. 

 

Wider impact 

For taxi operators like Kamau whose transport business depends on time management, the SGR is a vital infrastructure that, if well managed, has the capacity to foster socio-economic development by growing not only the local transport industry, but also other sectors as well.  

“Ever since the SGR started operation in 2017, my business has grown so much that in the past four years, I managed to buy my own taxi and that’s why I am my own boss now, unlike before when I used to work for someone else. Thanks to the SGR for the inspiration!” Kamau added. 

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR has become the first choice for most people who commute between the two cities for various needs.  

Monica Wakesho, a frequent traveler on the Mombasa-Nairobi route by the Madaraka Express train, said that the SGR train is faster and safer compared to road transport. 

“When you look at the bus fare between Nairobi and Mombasa, it has doubled in the last three years, but the ticket price of the SGR hasn’t gone up. For instance, the price of economy seats is 1,000 Kenyan shillings ($8.31),” Wakesho, a freight clearing agent at the port, affirmed. The price for a bus ticket for the route is $9-15.  

Besides bringing more business to taxi drivers, the SGR has also created other employment opportunities. There are jobs for working on the passenger trains and operating equipment of the cargo trains, among others. 

At a cost of over $3.8 billion, the SGR was among Kenya’s most expensive infrastructure projects at the time of its launch. The main contractor, China Road and Bridge Corp., hired 25,000 Kenyans to work on the railway. The entire project has created 46,000 jobs in total for local citizens. 

Underscoring the project’s importance to the Kenyan economy, Kenya’s then President Uhuru Kenyatta recently boarded the train to the coastal city of Mombasa and interacted with passengers. 

“Earlier today, I took the SGR train from Nairobi to Mombasa, during which I met and interacted with fellow commuters who shared their interesting experiences about the service. I am glad that the SGR train service has eased travel for people between the two cities,” Kenyatta wrote on his twitter after the trip.  

Earlier in 2019, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni took a ride on the express train, accompanied by his Kenyan counterpart, to assess the construction and operation of the SGR.  

The two leaders were very much impressed by the reception accorded by the SGR staff. Both heads of state interacted with passengers and the staff of the SGR operating company in front of the Nairobi Terminus.  

The SGR team were pleased to receive a written thank-you note from a Ugandan business representative: “This is the beginning of great relations between Kenya, Uganda and the East African region. Thank you for a great ride. We are pleased to ride this train with our President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni!” 

Making Rides Cheaper

By Derrick Silimina

In Zambia, new mobile-phone based applications ease hailing of taxis and make rides cheaper. However, traditional taxi operators claim the development is running them out of business.

There are new, technology-based smartphone applications that use the customer’s phone to detect their specific location using the global positioning system (GPS). The apps are revolutionizing the transport sector globally, instantly connecting the users to the nearest available driver. 

Inspired by brands like Uber and Taxify, more ride hailing apps are entering the transport business in Africa. These first became popular in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

Now, commuters in Lusaka are excited after the entry of two taxi hailing apps, Ulendo and Yango taxi, into the transport sector. 

“I am a first-time user of Ulendo and I enjoyed the services I received in the past two days while in Lusaka. My movements were made easier and faster”, said Caroline Mwamba. 

The new service providers promise delivery of fast, reliable and affordable rides to consumers in Lusaka. With a regular taxi, a trip from Lusaka’s central business district to Kenneth Kaunda’s International airport costs approximately K500 (€33) but with Ulendo, the offer rate is from as low as K300 (€20).

Yango, a Russian ride-hailing, delivery and e-grocery service app operating in Europe, Africa and the Middle East has recently entered the Zambian market too. Yango is a part of Yandex, a large Russian IT company. 

Yango, currently a cash-only service, allows a user to order a car by inputting their destination address and the app algorithms automatically calculate the price of the trip beforehand. Rides in Lusaka ordered with Yango start at K40 ($2) with a distance of about 3 kilometers. 

However, the market entry of ride-hailing apps has been met with mixed feelings by traditional taxi operators. The lower price rates offered by Ulendo and Yango are very tempting for most clients. 

“As you can see, we are just languishing here. The new taxi app is affecting our business. We urge the government to regulate this industry to enable a conducive business environment for all operators,” says Timothy Tembo, a local traditional taxi driver who operates at Kulima tower bus station.

These traditional taxi drivers attribute their higher fares to operational fees such as tax levies and registration fees they must pay unlike the mobile application operators. 

They also accuse the apps of using aggressive below-cost pricing and using drivers who operate without taxi permits from the local authorities.

Despite these challenges, experts are feeling that tech-based apps are positively disrupting transportation and will lead to better services. 

Jimmy Njobvu, an IT expert, is optimistic and says: “I see growth of the IT sector on the local market. Zambia joins other African countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Senegal where apps like Yango have launched their service.”

Covid-19 Impacts Worldwide

 

By Derrick Silimina, Bimbola Oyesola, Rukamanee Maharjan

The pandemic has affected the daily lives of people all over the world. Many lost a loved one and became ill or unemployed. Things that were taken for granted before, such as traveling, shaking hands or one‘s familiar workplace were suddenly in question. We asked some of our authors to share their personal experiences with us. We will present their contributions on our website in three parts. 

This is part one.

Zambia: Running out of medicine

Zambia’s first cases of Covid-19 occurred in March 2020. Since then, life in the country has been disrupted. 

The health sector was affected in particular. Medical facilities ran out of essential drugs such as cough syrups, painkillers and vitamin C supplement drugs. 

The demand was unusually high and beyond health providers’ expectations. This shortage has negatively affected many peoples’ daily lives. For instance, my five-year-old child had been due to undergo a routine surgery at our local hospital at the time Covid-19 broke out. 

However, he could not proceed, because the hospital lacked necessary drugs and surgical tools. Luckily, the surgery has been performed in the meantime. 

The government’s failure to plan ahead and procure enough drugs and health equipment is certainly one of the key lessons of Covid-19 in Zambia. The country needs to better prepare for future health emergencies.

Derrick Silimina is a freelance journalist based in Lusaka, Zambia.

derricksilimina@gmail.com

Nigeria: Travel restrictions and job loss

As a journalist, I used to travel a lot before the pandemic. Once per year, for example, I used to attend the International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. 

When Covid-19 hit, however, journalists in Nigeria couldn’t even attend assignments on the local level as traveling within the country was restricted. 

Consequently, it has become difficult to generate stories. Some of my colleagues lost their jobs and now work as freelancers without earning much income. I also know of a former leader in the tourism union who became unemployed. 

He used to work in a hotel and now has to move back to his farm. Many workers in Nigeria were eased out with a promise that they would be recalled once the situation would improve. 

Yet, they never got a second chance as the country is still in an economic crisis. One positive aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic is that Nigerians are now more conscious of their health.

Bimbola Oyesola is a Lagos-based journalist.

oritokeoyee@gmail.com

Nepal: Mourning society

Nepal is a grieving nation. All of us have lost someone near and dear to us during the first, second or third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, including family members, friends and coworkers. 

My maternal aunt caught the virus and did not receive intensive care on time. She died. I survived two infections and feared for my small kid while staying at home in isolation. 

At present, there is a lot of talk about the “new normal” or about digitisation. However, we did not talk much about what we have been through. 

Moreover, it hurts to know that much suffering could have been avoided if Nepal had a better health-care system. During the second wave, too many people died because they lacked oxygen. 

Some of them might still be alive if more hospital beds had been available, especially in intensive-care units. However, the government failed to respond promptly and take necessary measures.

Rukamanee Maharjan is an assistant professor of law at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.

rukumaharjan@gmail.com

Wonders of A Versatile Plant

By Derrick Silimina

Bamboo, the giant grass, is a plant with the fastest growth, and due to its high productivity rate, is a valuable source for a large number of durable products and sustainable year-long income. 

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, an intergovernmental organization registered with the United Nations that promotes the growing of bamboo, says the global bamboo economy is now valued at $60 billion, and is a potential income generator for rural communities. 

But it was not until recently that widespread commercialization of bamboo began taking root in Uganda and the African continent as a whole, spurring hopes of generating income and creating jobs for the rural poor. 

When Uganda’s then Minister of Water and Environment Flavia Munaaba Nabugere visited China to attend a ministerial seminar on bamboo in 2011, she was inspired by China’s ingenious bamboo innovation. The event served as an eye-opener to the abundant potential of the plant. 

“It got me interested and as minister then, I was able to nominate people from the government and from the community to attend training seminars on bamboo in China. I started mobilizing people countrywide to plant bamboo while demonstrating products that are made out of bamboo,” Nabugere told ChinAfrica. 

To tap into this lucrative green resource, Nabugere, against all odds, made a bold decision to enter into the forestry business through bamboo nursery production in a bid to add value to the plants. 

Nabugere noted that since 2016 when her ministerial term of office came to an end, Chinese experts on bamboo production have conducted training on construction, furniture-making and wetland management. 

“I value the knowledge transfer from China as crucial to stimulate the interest in bamboo as it gives the chance to promote a green economy. I do seedling generation and supply seedlings to farmers. I also plant bamboo and encourage people to plant and join the Uganda Bamboo Association,” she said.

   

Green economy 

Some farmers have since begun to commercialize bamboo because the profit potential has become even greater as bamboo plays an important role in climate change mitigation, and bamboo growing offers the possibility of increased income through carbon credits. 

The Uganda Bamboo Association has 400 enterprises engaged in different facets of the bamboo economy. The former minister revealed that she has up to 6 hectares of mature bamboo and engages her members to do restoration planting on 500 hectares of degraded forest.  

Nabugere, who is also the secretary general of the association, incubates bamboo enterprises through training in value addition and by supplying bamboo raw materials including bamboo poles, bamboo seedlings and shoots. 

“Bamboo looks simple, but it is complicated to grow it. With time, I have learned through training and day-to-day experience which seedlings survive, how to manage bamboo and which bamboo is mature for use,” she said.  

According to the Uganda National Bamboo Strategy and Action Plan (2019-29), the government aims to use bamboo in rehabilitating 375,000 hectares of degraded land by 2029 at a cost of about $45.8 million to protect the environment and provide income to rural communities. 

Vital source of income 

The bamboo strategy is designed to improve the livelihoods of Ugandans, especially those living in rural areas, through raising the incomes of the poor people, increasing the number of jobs and enhancing the contribution of bamboo forests to Uganda’s economic development. It is aimed at propelling the green economy development, and achieving the domestic and international development targets and commitments of the Government of Uganda. 

As the world bamboo market grows, led by China and an increasing demand for sustainable products in Europe and the U.S., bamboo enterprises in Uganda have over the years introduced various products for the local market, including toothpicks, chairs, tables, ornaments, mortars and pestles, among others. 

“Apart from growing bamboo plants, our members make and sell bamboo products and crafts like furniture, jewelry, desk organizers, wine holders, saving boxes, sugar bowls, tins, and toys,” Uganda Bamboo Association Administrator Precious Kavubu said. 

Edwin Mwesigwa, one of the exhibitors at the just-concluded Harvest Money Expo 2022, Uganda’s largest agricultural exhibition held in Kampala, said many visitors passing through his exhibition stall were awed by the products made out of bamboo.  

“I like being creative, and out of the bamboo poles I purchase from local farmers, I can make various products for sale and this is what sustains my family. In future, I will consider planting bamboo,” Mwesigwa said. 

Ruth Biyinzika, one of the visitors, shared her excitement after she bought a souvenir made out of bamboo. 

“It’s interesting to see the by-products from bamboo that are made by our local producers here in Uganda. I thought products like toothpicks, ornaments and others I have known all my life can only be made in China; but it’s amazing to see them being produced here,” Biyinzika stated. 

Asked how the Chinese training in the bamboo value chain is contributing to growth of the association’s members, Nabugere said that her association’s experience has been both exciting and challenging.  

“First, we realized that with simple tools, we are able to make products out of bamboo, and saw the potential for youth employment. Now, the challenge is to obtain technology to make products such as charcoal, timber, and timber boards for export, as we are still doing manual value addition with simple tools,” she said.