• Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) carried 2.7 million passengers in 2025, up from 2.4 million in 2024, despite a 50% fare increase introduced in January 2024.
• Passenger revenue rose to 4.79 billion shillings ($37.1 million), while freight volumes reached 7.4 million tonnes, generating 16.6 billion shillings.
• Total SGR revenue climbed to $165.8 million in 2025, compared with $139.5 million in 2024.

Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) transported 2.7 million passengers in 2025, compared with 2.4 million in 2024, according to the latest report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The service generated 4.79 billion shillings ($37.1 million) in passenger revenue, up from 4.09 billion shillings a year earlier.

August, November and December recorded the highest monthly traffic, with 291,000, 258,000 and 344,000 यात्रies respectively, reflecting peak seasonal demand.

The growth occurred despite Kenya Railways (KR) implementing a 50% fare increase in January 2024. The figures indicate sustained demand for a service that has become a primary mobility option between Nairobi and Mombasa since its inauguration in 2017. In December 2025, KR added two additional passenger trains to and from Nairobi to accommodate year-end holiday traffic.

The freight segment transported 7.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2025 and generated 16.6 billion shillings in revenue. In comparison, the railway carried 6.5 million tonnes in 2024 and generated 13.9 billion shillings.

As a result, total SGR revenue reached $165.8 million in 2025, up from $139.5 million in 2024, reflecting stronger performance across both passenger and freight operations.

The latest data underscore the railway’s growing role in Kenya’s national transport system, as it consolidates its position in passenger mobility and domestic logistics chains despite higher tariffs.

Henoc Dossa