Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Abraham Korir Sing'oei has announced that the official commercial launch of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Premium Class Coach by President William Ruto next month will significantly boost foreign exchange.

Speaking during a test ride inside the newly unveiled luxurious coaches, Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Maingi defended the Ksh.12,000 one-way ticket cost for the Premium Class Coach, citing the value for money provided through entertainment and fine dining services.

A delegation of African ambassadors was received by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Abraham Korir Sing'Oei at the SGR Nairobi Terminus.

The envoys were the maiden passengers of the SGR Premium Class Coach, undergoing its final test ride from the capital city to Mombasa ahead of the official launch of commercial services by President William Ruto next month.

The delegation was taken through the regular security and ticketing verification procedures before boarding the Premium Class Coach.

The four Premium Class Coaches, each with a capacity of 28 passengers, are fitted with luxurious adjustable seats and equipped with entertainment features.

The movement of the Premium Class Coaches was closely monitored at the automated dispatch centre stationed at the SGR Nairobi Terminus.

Passengers were provided with fine dining services at intervals during the 5-hour ride from Nairobi to Mombasa.

"The VVIP services experienced in these coaches are for marketing purposes for visiting high-profile dignitaries... The services here outmatch what they experience in developed countries. This will, in return, boost foreign exchange,” Sing'oei said.

However, the luxurious ride inside the Premium Class Coach comes at a cost, with passengers having to part with Ksh.12,000 for a one-way ticket or Ksh.20,000 for a return ticket.

"It's costly, yes, but look at the services provided. The entertainment, spacious adjustable seats, and fine dining services are top-notch—there's value for money. There has also been a demand for VIP First Class coaches. Last year, we registered a staggering 2.5 million passengers,” a passenger Maingi said.

"This is an experience only likened to what we go through in developed countries. Well done, Kenya—the ride was so smooth, and we were comfortable,” Botswana Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Sabdiyo Dido Bashuna said.

Uganda's High Commissioner to Kenya Hassan Wasswa Galiwango added: "Sometimes it's how you arrive, not when you arrive. This is a major infrastructure that brings pride to a nation such as Kenya."

The inaugural test ride of the Premium Class Coach ended at the Mombasa terminus after the 5-hour journey, with commercial services set to commence in September.