The Wilson Center in Washington posted on 19 October 2023 a commentary titled "Chinese Rail Export's Environmental Dilemma: Economic Gains or Green?" by Kenen Zhu.
While Chinese-built railways bring positive benefits to Africa, they also pose social and environmental risks. The use of combustion train engines in Kenya contributes to pollution. The Mombasa to Nairobi train has also siphoned commerce away from the parallel highway and displaced local economies.
