Kenya’s Parliament Warned That Unpaid Debts to China Threaten Standard Gauge Railway Service

File image of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway that China financed and built as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Simon Mania/AFP

Kenya Railways is falling behind in its debt service payments for one of the country’s new Chinese-built and financed Standard Gauge Railway lines, according to a new budget report submitted to the Kenyan parliament on Wednesday.

In its fiscal year 2020-2021 budget report, the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee warned that Kenya Railways has failed to pay $357 million to Africa Star Railway Operation Company Ltd, the Chinese company that operates the Madaraka Express passenger and cargo line.

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by Eric Olander

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