Africa: Stop railroading women

Cynthia Liao on why development infrastructure projects need greater female input

The World Today Published 4 February 2022 3 minute READ

Cynthia Liao

Academy Associate, Africa Programme

Nestled in southeastern Kenya, between the Taita Hills and the Nyiri Desert and surrounded by the plains and game reserve of Tsavo National Parks, lies the town of Voi. 

This rapidly expanding commercial and tourism centre has a population of 60,000. On its outskirts, a modern glass and steel structure rises from the land. Voi railway station is one of many along the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, built and financed by China. 

Known as the SGR, the line opened in 2017 linking the Kenyan capital to the Indian Ocean. It is the largest infrastructure project in Kenya since independence and a landmark project along the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s trillion-dollar investment initiative spanning Africa, Asia and South America. 

Access the archive

The current issue is open access with previous editions reserved for our members and magazine subscribers.