President William Ruto is set to embark on a multi-day visit to Kenya’s Coast region, where he will launch key infrastructure projects and commission completed developments aimed at spurring regional economic growth. Among the highlights of the tour is the official inauguration of the Mombasa Commuter Rail Service, a major transport upgrade designed to improve urban mobility and complement the existing Madaraka Express passenger line.
The new service, which runs from Mariakani to Mombasa town, includes modern passenger stations in Miritini and Mombasa Central, as well as a 2.3-kilometre railway bridge at Makupa, connecting the island to the mainland. Authorities also rehabilitated over 16 kilometres of the old Metre Gauge Railway to enhance reliability and speed. The project introduces convenient Park and Ride and Drop and Ride options, with space for more than 100 vehicles and an expected daily ridership exceeding 1,000 passengers. Transport officials say the initiative will ease congestion in Mombasa’s central business district while linking commuters to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) for long-distance travel.
During his tour, President Ruto is also expected to launch the Vipingo Special Economic Zone in Kilifi County, a project envisioned to attract manufacturing, logistics, and export-oriented investments. The President will further inspect several ongoing infrastructure works, including the Jaribuni Road, Jomvu Bridge, and the Nyali Affordable Housing Project, as part of the government’s wider agenda to enhance connectivity and affordable living in coastal counties. In addition, he is scheduled to distribute title deeds to residents of Chaani, continuing his administration’s land regularization efforts across the region.
Analysts view the coastal visit as a strategic effort to strengthen the government’s development footprint and reinforce public confidence in the bottom-up economic model. The new Mombasa Commuter Rail Service is expected to transform urban mobility while creating jobs and encouraging private investment in surrounding areas. As the country faces growing demands for infrastructure expansion, the coastal projects mark another step in Kenya’s long-term vision to modernize transport, boost trade, and promote inclusive regional growth.