French shipping giant CMA CGM is extending its services beyond the Port of Mombasa with a dedicated rail freight service linking Kilindini harbour to Nairobi’s Embakasi Inland Container Depot (ICD).
This, as it expands its logistics operations in Kenya and seek to strengthen cargo connections between the coast and inland markets, amid a growing apetite by global shipping lines on Kenya’s maritime and inland logistics space including clearing services.
The rail, inaugurated on October 28, will initially operate one dedicated train weekly, transporting containerised imports from Mombasa to Nairobi using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) freight network.
The train comprises 54 wagons with a capacity of 108 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), offering importers an additional option for moving goods from the country’s main maritime gateway to the capital.
The company said it would assess customer demand before increasing the frequency of the service and potentially introducing a return journey from Nairobi to Mombasa.
Naveen Prabhu, CMA CGM’s deputy regional director for East Africa, said the initiative marked a significant milestone in the company’s Kenyan operations and its ambition to integrate maritime transport with inland logistics.
“Today’s launch is an important milestone for CMA CGM in Kenya. Our ambition is to strengthen connectivity between the sea, the port and inland economies,” he said.
The project, he said, reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Kenya and its intention to support economic growth by connecting businesses to international markets.
The new service places CMA CGM among global shipping operators seeking to extend their reach beyond ports by integrating sea freight with inland transport, potentially giving customers a more coordinated route for moving imported goods.
It is the world’s third-largest shipping company, serving more than 420 ports across five continents through a fleet of over 700 vessels. The group operates in 184 countries and carried more than 24 million TEUs in 2025.
Its expansion into dedicated rail freight comes as Kenya seeks to strengthen the role of the SGR in moving cargo from Mombasa to inland distribution centres and reducing pressure on road-based freight transport.
The service was developed in partnership with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), which operate the port and railway infrastructure supporting the connection.
Transport PS Mohamed Daghar said efficient connections between Mombasa and inland economic centres were essential to improving the country’s logistics chain.
He said cooperation between maritime and rail transport operators could help connect infrastructure, businesses and markets while supporting trade and economic development.
The dedicated service could provide a more integrated cargo movement option for importers, although its commercial impact will depend on reliability, pricing, transit times and the availability of suitable return cargo.
CMA CGM is also developing inland logistics solutions in Kenya, including its Kilima service, as it seeks to offer customers transport options beyond ocean shipping.
The Kilima service (Kilima Xpress) is a weekly standalone container shipping and logistics service operated by CMA CGM connecting Asia, the Far East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
The group has further renewed its partnership with Bandari Maritime Academy to support training for Kenyan maritime and logistics professionals, linking its commercial expansion to the development of local industry skills.
During the inauguration, Kenyan officials and the French ambassador to Kenya, Wadid Benaabou, also visited the CMA CGM PALMYRE, a liquefied natural gas-powered vessel highlighting the group’s efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transport.
Beyond logistics, the CMA CGM Foundation has supported community projects in Kenya.
Since 2023, it has worked with the Kenya Red Cross to develop the I.O.Me001 Innovation Centre in Mombasa, donating 11 converted shipping containers for entrepreneurship and coding activities.
The centre brought together 15 institutions and more than 1,200 students in 2025. The foundation, working with the French Embassy in Kenya, is providing seven additional containers to expand its capacity.
The group also operates CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s leading logistics providers, which handled 15 million shipments in 2025.
The dedicated rail service signals CMA CGM’s push to combine shipping and inland freight operations as competition intensifies among logistics providers seeking to offer businesses end-to-end cargo solutions across East Africa.
