Train crew Fionah communicates with passengers on a Mombasa-Nairobi Railway passenger train, July 29, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Station attendant Peter Mwadime works at Mombasa Terminus Station in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Mark works in the kitchen of a Mombasa-Nairobi Railway passenger train, July 29, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Signal workers Daniel Kibe (L) and Patrick Mburu check signal equipments at Mombas Terminus Station in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Mercy Gesare cleans the aisle on a Mombasa-Nairobi Railway passenger train, July 29, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Kenyan drivers John Pius (L) and Brian Kemboi confirm safety with platform staff at Ngong station in Kajiado, Kenya, March 25, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Long Lei)

Passenger train inspector Cheruiyot Kiptoo Steve checks equipments on a Mombasa-Nairobi Railway passenger train, July 29, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Train conductor Joseph Mwangi waits for confirmation of departure information at Mtito Andei Station on the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, Kenya, July 29, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Mombasa Terminus station master Cosmas Makewa (R) and passenger transportation director Peterson Njeru Gitonga work in an office in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

On-board inspector Faustine Tanui checks equipments on a Mombasa-Nairobi Railway passenger train, July 29, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Ticketing clerk Agnes sells tickets at Mombasa Terminus Station in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Announcer David Mwangi Ndungu works at Mombasa Terminus Station in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Passenger attendant Monicah Chepkemboi guides a passenger to take the elevator at Mombasa Terminus Station in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

Mombasa Terminus station master Cosmas Makewa (R) talks to security inspectors at the station in Mombasa, Kenya, July 27, 2022. Launched on May 31, 2017, the 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has fostered job creation for local people.

Afristar, the company operating the SGR, has employed Kenyans in 123 railway professions which fall under 5 railway departments, including railway transportation, locomotive, track, signal, and rolling stock.

As of July 31, there are currently 1,359 employees working at Afristar, among them 1,049 are Kenyan employees. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)