Kenya Railways to Increase SGR Fares by 50%

Kenya Railways is set to increase fares by 50% on its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train starting January 1, 2024. The new fares will see passengers traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa pay Sh4,500 in first class and Sh1,500 in economy, an increase of Sh2,250 and Sh500, respectively.

Kenya Railways has attributed the increase to the high cost of fuel. In a statement, the company said that the hike in fuel prices has increased its operating costs.

The upward revision of prices will also affect the Madaraka Express services, Nairobi Commuter Rail Service, and the Kisumu and Nanyuki Safari trains.

Customers making advance purchases for the Madaraka Express Passenger Service will notice the adjusted fares as of November 1, 2023. The adjusted process for the Kisumu and Nanyuki routes are yet to be released.

The new fares come at a time when fuel prices in Kenya are at an all-time high. Currently, a litre of Super Petrol is retailing at Sh217.36, diesel at Sh205.47, and kerosene at Sh205.06 in Nairobi.

The increase in SGR fares is likely to be met with resistance from passengers, who are already struggling with the high cost of living. However, Kenya Railways has said that the increase is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the SGR service.