Kenya Railways is heavily investing on refrigerated containers (reefer containers) as it angles for a pie of the country's horticulture exports, which are increasingly being shipped.
The shift is pegged to Kenya's ambitious "green"plan to move up to 50 per cent of its horticulture produces, mainly flowers, to the export markets by sea, with Europe as the main target.Other major exports by sea include avocados, macadamia and the traditional tea and coffee exports.
According to Kenya Railways' management, the corporation expects the first batch of 20 reefers for the SGR freight operations by July 14, alongside coaches for the passenger services.These form part of additional equipment, which includes 500 wagons, procured in February to boost freight and passenger services.
"We will be doing the first trial on reefers in the course of this month from Naivasha to Mombasa, where we will be moving perishable goods," Kenya Railway managing director Phillip Mainga told The Star.
Read more at the-star.co.ke