Mudavadi heads to UK for Sudan peace conference, to secure funds for Nairobi railway construction

Mudavadi is expected to present Kenya's position on regional peace and security in the Greater Horn of Africa, particularly the conflict-ridden Sudan

"During the meeting, Mudavadi will affirm that Kenya supports a unified Sudan for the people of Sudan, advocates for a Sudanese-owned political process with the supportive role of external actors, and Kenya's opposition to using military solutions to address a political dispute," read a communiqué on Sunday.

The war, now running for almost 3 years, has led to the death of thousands and the displacement of millions of women and children.

Since the war started, Kenya has welcomed Sudanese stakeholders from both rivals Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), special envoys for the parties, representatives of local communities, civil society, political parties, and armed movements in a bid to end the war. 

Mudavadi, also the Foreign Affairs CS, will also be tasked to call for cordial ties between African states under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), African Union, East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Also in his itinerary, Mudavadi will also lead the Kenyan delegation to ink a financial agreement for the construction of a 438-acre mega Nairobi Railway City program.

In September 2024, President William Ruto discussed the UK-backed project with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in New York, USA.

The Nairobi Railway City project is a flagship project in the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership and sits on 425 acres of land in the Nairobi city centre.

It will be funded by the United Kingdom through a public-private partnership (PPP) to the tune of Ksh.30 billion.

Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga previously said the project was expected to be completed in three years and is supposed to ease mobility and interconnectivity within Nairobi and its environs.

The project’s history dates back to January 2020 when former president Uhuru Kenyatta and the former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met and discussed it in London.