NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 28 — Global shipping giant CMA CGM has launched a dedicated freight train service between the Port of Mombasa and Nairobi’s Embakasi Inland Container Depot (ICD), expanding its cargo transport network as it seeks to strengthen connections between Kenya’s main maritime gateway and inland markets.
The service, launched on Wednesday in partnership with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), will initially operate one train per week, with capacity to transport 108 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per trip.
The train comprises 54 wagons and will initially carry containerised imports from Mombasa to Nairobi, offering customers an integrated shipping and rail transport option for moving goods from international markets to inland destinations.
CMA CGM said the initial phase would help assess customer demand and determine whether to increase service frequency and introduce return trips from Nairobi to Mombasa.
The launch strengthens the French shipping group’s inland logistics offering in Kenya, where businesses depend on efficient cargo movement between the coast and major consumption and distribution centres.
Naveen Prabhu, CMA CGM’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, said the initiative marked a milestone in the company’s efforts to improve connectivity between maritime transport, ports and inland economies.
“Our ambition is to strengthen connectivity between the sea, the port and inland economies,” Prabhu said, adding that the project reflected the group’s long-term commitment to Kenya and its economic development.
He said cooperation with the government, port and rail agencies, as well as customers, was central to expanding the company’s logistics services.
Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar said stronger connections between Mombasa and inland economic centres were essential to improving Kenya’s logistics chain.
“Partnerships between maritime and rail transport stakeholders help connect infrastructure, businesses and markets,” Daghar said, describing the initiative as an example of public-private cooperation in support of trade and economic growth.
The inauguration was attended by French Ambassador to Kenya Wadid Benaabou, KPA Chief Executive Officer William Ruto, Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga and senior CMA CGM officials.
Beyond the new rail service, CMA CGM is developing inland transport solutions to complement its maritime operations, including its Kilima service.
The group is also supporting skills development through a renewed partnership with Bandari Maritime Academy to train Kenyan professionals for the maritime and logistics sectors.
The rail initiative comes as logistics operators seek to strengthen links between seaports and inland markets, where cargo movement efficiency is critical to trade and supply chains.
However, the initial schedule of one train per week means the service’s immediate capacity will be limited, with any expansion dependent on customer demand and the company’s assessment of operational requirements.
During the inauguration, Kenyan officials and the French ambassador also visited the CMA CGM PALMYRE, a vessel powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), highlighting the company’s efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport.
Foundation backs education and innovation
CMA CGM is also supporting community development through its foundation, which has partnered with the Kenyan Red Cross since 2023 to develop the I.O.Me001 Innovation Centre in Mombasa.
The foundation donated 11 converted shipping containers for the centre, which focuses on entrepreneurship and coding.
The facility brought together 15 institutions and more than 1,200 students in 2025, with seven additional containers being provided in partnership with the French Embassy to expand its capacity.
The foundation is also supporting the renovation of the University of Nairobi’s football pitch alongside the university and the French Development Agency, with the project intended to address climate-related challenges and benefit nearly 50,000 students.
CMA CGM operates in 184 countries and employs approximately 170,000 people globally.
The group, which ranks as the world’s third-largest shipping company, serves more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 700 vessels.
In 2025, it transported more than 24 million TEUs. Its logistics subsidiary, CEVA Logistics, operates 1,000 warehouses and handled 15 million shipments during the year.
The group has set a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
