Over 100 years have passed since the Lions of Tsavo, the story of man eating lions attacking railway workers laying the track across the great country was told. Many workers lost their lives.
Today, with less drama for being eaten by lions a company from China is replacing the rail track with a full-gage line raised above the valley floor on an impressive earthend railway bed over much of the route.
Provisions have been made for wildlife to pass beneath the railway. Humane groups here are monitoring wildlife movement to assume it works. Similar tunnels and overpasses are in use in Colorado providing wildlife corridors and movement safe from traffic on Interstate 70.
Kenya’s railway program is fast moving. The country is in transition as it has been since independence in 1963. Amazing when you think about how much change has taken place in 53 years.
David's Blog 
thanks for sharing
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What motivates the Chinese to do this project?
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It is interesting to see the many banners erected by the Chinese railroad construction company next to this huge project. Why the Chinese are so instrumental in renewing and creating new infrastructure in Kenya? China is expanding throughout the African continent. China is also financially investing in Kenya through loans and support to the government there. Last month driving by one of the new train depots and administrative offices built on a high plateau overlooking the railroad announced China’s friendly development on behalf of both countries. The railroad will be instrumental in moving raw materials from Uganda to the coast. The Chinese are doing this for both economic and social reasons.
In observing the monumental work taking place one can’t help but wonder why the United States is not more present. We should develop less ridged systems for dealing with corruption models in the world.
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Hi Lisa:
China is a very big country expanding across the globe. China’s interest in raw earth materials and immigration opportunities for its population are central to the countries expansion into Kenya and all of East Africa. I agree with you, that the U.S. needs to embrace a model for working with developing countries that accounts for the “bribes and corruption” that take place. Our code of conduct in the U.S. is well defined and codified. It is informal and secret in developing countries like Kenya. With some study, a new paradigm could be created providing U.S. companies better standards for international transactions. The U.S. and the developed world claim less corruption in our dealing because transactions are more transparency. We don’t call it corruption because we can call it another fee for service. We should help the developing world create more jobs by expanding education in the building trades and job opportunities. We should train Kenyan’s to build their own roads rather than rely on Chinese contractors to do it for them. The Chinese float construction bonds to the Kenyan government for the exchange of hiring Chinese companies to build infrastructure. It’s a bit of a shell game and the Kenyans lose opportunity to develop their own industries and occupational class.
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