Running from the Kenyan seaboard into the heart of central Africa, the Northern Corridor remains the region’s principal trade artery, handling the bulk of transit cargo destined for neighbouring states. Anchored at the port city of Mombasa, the route threads inland by road, rail and pipeline, serving markets in Uganda, Rwanda and the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while remaining economically tied to Kenya as the logistical hub. Unlike newer greenfield projects, the Northern Corridor is an evolving system built on legacy infrastructure dating back to the colonial era, now steadily upgraded to accommodate rising container volumes, oil-product demand and cross-border commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Its reliabilit, rather than grand scale — has made it indispensable to landlocked economies seeking predictable access to global supply chains. Governance is coordinated by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, an intergovernmental institution mandated to harmonise transport policy, oversee infrastructure development and streamline customs procedures among member states, with a focus on reducing transit times and non-tariff barriers along the route.
Corridor trend or concept line