Concilia Owire, the first female locomotive driver in Kenya, has emerged as the winner of the 2023 ‘Belt and Road: My China Story Speech’ competition. The competition’s final took place at the Radisson Blu hotel in Nairobi. Owire, who also works as an electrical engineer, delivered a speech about her experiences related to China and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Concilia Owire, 29 years old, currently serves as the Assistant Manager and Passenger Locomotive Driver at Afristar Railway Operation Company. Her journey towards becoming a locomotive driver began in 2016 when she was awarded a scholarship by CRBC (China Road and Bridge Corporation) to study Locomotive and Rolling Stock Engineering in China. She enthusiastically embraced the opportunity and set her sights on becoming the first female Kenyan locomotive driver to operate trains beyond the country’s borders.
During her studies in China, Owire delved into the Chinese culture and acquired knowledge about advanced railway technology. Her return to Kenya coincided with the completion of the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR railway. In May 2017, she had the honor of driving the inaugural trip of the SGR with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his successor William Ruto on board. She was just 23 years old at the time, and this moment marked a significant achievement in her career.
Owire, in reflecting on her historic journey, admitted to the pressure she felt on her maiden trip from Mombasa to Nairobi. Nevertheless, she successfully managed the journey and brought the train to a safe stop at the Nairobi terminus. This accomplishment was a source of great pride for Owire, her country, and her instructors.
Kenya has a long history of railway transportation dating back to the 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the initiation of operations of the Kenyan SGR that the country saw its first female locomotive driver. The competition also recognized Gisemba Gloria from China Road and Bridge Corporation and Jeanne Ong’iyo from Moja Express Way as second prize winners, while the third prize went to Mirriam Kirimi (China Energy International Group), Maureen Kobia (Afristar Railway Operation), and David Maina (China Aerospace Construction).
The competition, organized by the Kenya-China Economic and Trade Association, featured 10 finalists selected from a pool of 60 participants. Each finalist had ten minutes to express how Kenya-China relations had influenced their lives.
Shakeel Shabbir, the Chairman of the Kenya-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, expressed pride in meeting Kenya’s first female SGR driver. He highlighted the competition’s significance as Kenya and China celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at enhancing regional integration and fostering economic growth.
Shabbir emphasized the profound changes brought about by the 10 years of Kenya-China relations, exemplified by the efficient SGR, improved travel times, and the emergence of a Luo-Chin community, a fusion of Luo culture and Chinese heritage.
This speech competition served as a tribute to the contributions of over 22,000 Kenyan employees of Chinese enterprises who have played a vital role in strengthening Sino-Kenyan relations. China’s involvement in Kenya extends beyond the SGR, encompassing road projects such as the Dongo Kundu Bypass in Mombasa, the Nairobi Expressway, and the development of electric buses.
