It now takes around 20 minutes from the centre of Nairobi to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Kenyan Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, officially launched the new rail link this week – the JKIA Express Service – noting that it was an extension of the Nairobi commuter rail service upgrade project that would alleviate congestion on the Kenyan capital’s road system.

The entire project was announced last year and was undertaken by French companies in conjunction with the Kenyan government.

It followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, during the latter’s first visit to Kenya last year.

The French government is funding the project.

Air passengers will pay KES500 (€3) for the trip from Nairobi Railway Station to the airport.