French shipping giant CMA CGM on Wednesday, October 28, launched a dedicated freight train linking the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi’s Embakasi Inland Container Depot.
The new service, will initially operate one train per week, carrying containerised imports from Mombasa to Nairobi as the company assesses demand before potentially increasing frequency and introducing return services.
The launch marks another step in CMA CGM’s strategy to integrate maritime shipping with inland transport and logistics, positioning Kenya as a gateway to markets across East and Central Africa.
It also expands its presence in Kenya months after committing €700 million (Sh101.1 billion) to modernising port infrastructure.
The train has 54 wagons and a capacity of 108 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). It was launched in partnership with the Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Railways Corporation.
Naveen Prabhu, Deputy Regional Director for East Africa at CMA CGM, said the launch was an important milestone for CMA CGM in Kenya.
“Our ambition is to strengthen connectivity between the sea, the port and inland economies,” Prabhu said.
He further added that the project was also about partnership with the government of Kenya, through the Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Railways and their customers.
“It reflects our long-term commitment to Kenya and our ambition to contribute to the country’s growth by connecting people, businesses and opportunities.”
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar said the service demonstrated the importance of coordinated port and rail operations in improving cargo movement and making logistics costs more predictable for businesses.
“With a planned load exceeding 100 TEUs, this service demonstrates the value of coordinated port and rail operations in improving cargo movement, reducing delays and supporting more predictable logistics costs for businesses,” Daghar said.
He added that the partnership aimed to serve both imports and exports, while strengthening connections to regional markets along the Northern Corridor.
The service will initially move imports from Mombasa to Embakasi.
CMA CGM said its first phase would help assess customer demand and determine whether to increase the number of weekly trains and introduce a return service to the coast.
The company has not disclosed the freight rates, projected annual cargo volumes or expected savings for customers.
PORT INVESTMENT
The train service follows a strategic cooperation agreement signed between CMA CGM and the Kenyan government during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Nairobi in May 2026.
The agreement, announced in the presence of Macron and President William Ruto, envisages an investment of about Sh101.1 billion to modernise and expand two container terminals at the Port of Mombasa.
The investment is intended to increase cargo-handling capacity, improve port infrastructure and strengthen Kenya’s connections to international shipping routes.
The port project and the new freight train point to a broader strategy in which CMA CGM is seeking to link shipping, port operations and inland distribution rather than rely solely on moving containers by sea.
The investments come as Mombasa seeks to strengthen its position as a regional gateway serving neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and the DRC.
A WIDER LOGISTICS AND SHIPPING STRATEGY
CMA CGM’s Kenyan expansion also includes inland logistics services and training partnerships aimed at developing local maritime and supply-chain skills.
The group operates in 184 countries and serves more than 420 ports through a fleet of over 700 vessels, according to its corporate profile.
Its growing presence in Kenya has also been visible in maritime operations. In May, the Port of Mombasa received the CMA CGM Adventure, a large container vessel powered primarily by liquefied natural gas (LNG), in a development highlighted by port authorities as part of the shipping industry’s shift towards lower-emission operations.
The vessel’s arrival, the port-modernisation agreement and the dedicated freight train demonstrate CMA CGM’s expanding logistics presence.
The initiative now offers Kenya an opportunity is to translate the investment into more efficient trade connections and stronger regional logistics capacity.
