Recently, Kenya's leading media outlets The Star and Citizen Digital marked Mazingira Day, with feature stories on how the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) balances transport development with environmental protection.

Since opening in May 2017, the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR has become a vital part of Kenya's transport network, carrying more passengers and freight every year.

The project integrates carbon reduction, wildlife protection and natural resource management into the railway's construction and operation, so economic growth and environmental protection advance hand in hand.

On carbon reduction, the railway's core environmental value lies in replacing carbon-intensive road transport. By moving freight from road to rail, it has cut carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by more than 800,000 tonnes since opening.

On environmental protection, the railway's eco-friendly design includes bridges, culverts, protective fencing and dedicated wildlife crossings that lower the risk of collisions between trains and animals, allowing the line and the natural environment to coexist. In areas with heavy wildlife activity, warning signs, speed limits and joint patrols keep both animals and train operations safe.Sustainability is built into daily operations and resource recycling as well. The railway's wastewater treatment facilities process about 1,168 tonnes of industrial wastewater a year, and the treated water meets local environmental standards. The project has also installed 98 solar-powered lights along the line and organized native tree-planting events in Ngong Road Forest.

Read more:

How SGR balances economic growth, wildlife conservation, and emissions reductions (The Star)

How the SGR is supporting Kenya's green transition (Digital Citizen)