Kenya: Kenya Transportation Profile

The Kenya Railways Corp. maintains 2,778 km (1,726 mi) of rail, of which over half make up the major line between the Ugandan border and Mombasa, the chief port.

A modern installation, the port at Mombasa serves Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the DROC, and the Sudan inclunding Kenya. A national shipping line, 70% national owned, was created in 1987. There is steamer service on Lake Victoria. In 2002, the merchant marine had two ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 4,893 GRT.

As of 2002, the road system comprised an estimated 63,300 km (39,334 mi), of which about 8,940 km (5,555 mi) were paved. The major road from Nairobi to Mombasa is well paved, and the government has undertaken a campaign to widen and resurface secondary roads. All-weather roads linking Kenya with the Sudan and Ethiopia have been completed. Over 80% of Kenya's total passenger and freight traffic use road transport. In 2000, there were 288,500 motor vehicles, inclunding 139,900 private passenger automobiles and 148,600 commercial vehicles.

In 2001, there were 231 airports in Kenya, only 19 of which had paved runways. There are major international airports at Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta) and Mombasa (Moi International). The Nairobi air terminal, opened in 1958 and expanded in 1972 to receive jumbo jets, is a continental terminus for international services from Europe, Asia, and other parts of Africa. Air travel and air freight as well are accommodated at Malindi, Kisumu, and numerous smaller airstrips. Kenya Airways flies to other nations of East Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Indian subcontinent. In 2001, 1,418,200 passengers were carried on scheduled domestic and international airline flights.