NYAMIRA, Kenya — President William Ruto has dismissed claims that Nyamira County will be excluded from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network, announcing plans to construct a Sh300 million station in Ikonge.
Speaking during a development tour of the region, Ruto said the planned station will enhance the movement of passengers and goods, linking Nyamira to Nairobi and other key markets.
“I am the one who is extending the railway from Naivasha, and here in Ikonge, I am constructing a major station worth Sh300 million that will help transport passengers and goods,” he said.
The Head of State urged residents to prepare for increased trade opportunities, noting that the project is designed to unlock the region’s economic potential.
The announcement comes amid criticism from a section of leaders in the Gusii region, who had raised concerns that Nyamira would miss out on a passenger station under the SGR expansion.
Ruto is currently on a three-day development tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties, which began on April 12 and is set to conclude on April 14.
The proposed Ikonge station forms part of the broader extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu, a project launched by the President on March 19, 2026, in Narok County.
Ruto said the extension is critical to completing the railway network and maximising its economic value, noting that the current line does not reach key production zones in western Kenya.
“A railway that terminates at Narok is incomplete because it does not reach the major production zones of western Kenya… and does not capture the full volume of outbound freight that sustains a modern rail economy,” he said.
The expanded corridor is expected to connect Nairobi’s industrial base with agricultural regions across Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu, and Busia counties.
According to government projections, the 475-kilometre extension will include 79 bridges, eight tunnels, 376 culverts, and 26 stations, at an estimated cost of Sh645.8 billion.
Ruto said the project will support key sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, and fisheries, particularly around the Lake Victoria basin, by improving logistics and reducing transport costs.
The clarification on Nyamira’s inclusion is likely to ease political pressure in the region, as leaders and residents seek assurances that major infrastructure projects are equitably distributed across counties.
The government has framed the SGR expansion as a strategic investment aimed at boosting regional integration, trade efficiency, and long-term economic growth.
