Journalist Edwin Okoth has launched a new documentary that explores the impact of the Standard Gauge Railway, popularly known as SGR, on the livelihoods of truck
drivers in Kenya.
The documentary investigates key clauses in the agreement between Kenya and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and examines the SGR’s role as a crucial transportation mode from Nairobi to Mombasa. While the SGR has been heralded as a significant advancement in infrastructure, concerns have emerged regarding its unintended consequences on the trucking industry.
Since the completion of the railway’s first phase in 2017, which links the Port of
Mombasa to the country’s interior, there have been critical developments. In
2018, the Kenyan government mandated that all containerized cargo entering
Mombasa port be transported via the SGR. This policy shift has led to the closure of over 10,000 trucking businesses, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs for truck drivers and loaders, as well as the shutdown of numerous related businesses.
Through research and firsthand accounts, Edwin Okoth captures the struggles and challenges faced by those affected by this transition. The documentary explores the human impact of infrastructural progress and invites viewers to reflect on the broader implications for livelihoods in Kenya.
Mr Okoth has previously written groundbreaking stories about the SGR contract in the Kenyan media and focussed his thesis on the China-Africa relations in his MA thesis at Columbia University in 2018. He had this to say about the documentary “The negative impact felt by the business community and the truck drivers underlines the importance of proper public participation before such mega projects are rolled out. Kenya should take the lessons from the SGR seriously and avoid a similar mistake in such projects in the future”
You can watch the documentary below