The EAR&H managed the railways of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanganyika until the collapse of the East African Community in 1977.

The fourteen-hour overnight trip runs three times a week either eastbound or westbound on the single track.

[4] The KR has suffered from inefficient management, has a bloated work force, and has run deficit operations in spite of its potential.

[8][9] On 28 July 2006 the East African Standard reported that the planned take-over was postponed to 1 November 2006.

The consortium was criticized for falling freight traffic in the two years since taking control, while RVR alleges the drop is due to the poor condition of the railway infrastructure and the damage done by protesters during the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis.

Officers from Toll subsidiary Patrick Defence Logistics were to manage the railway after the transition.

[14] In 2012, plans were developed to expand the system with a new railway that connects to other countries, namely Uganda, Rwanda, and possibly South Sudan and Ethiopia.

[18] Civil works on the Mombasa-Nairobi first phase were completed in November 2016, and passenger service began on 31 May 2017.

The first phase between Nairobi and Mombasa, a distance of 609 km, was built by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

[22] The $3.8 billion deal was signed in May, 2012 in Nairobi by visiting Chinese premier Li Keqiang, along with the presidents of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.

Nandi MP Alfred Keter[24] has been at the forefront on the corruption allegations that caused the parliamentary committee of investment and transport to investigate the project.

There were protests that the second phase would cut through the Nairobi National Park and that the cost of the railway was excessive.