KISUMU, Kenya — Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has announced that construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Naivasha to Kisumu will begin in March 2026, marking a significant milestone in the long-delayed infrastructure project.
In an update issued on Tuesday, February 24, Nyong’o said the SGR Phase 2B and 2C project is now transitioning into the implementation stage following consultations with key stakeholders.
“Construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2B & 2C from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba is expected to begin in March,” Nyong’o said.
The governor noted that the 269-kilometre extension from Suswa/Naivasha to Kisumu will include approximately 83 kilometres within Kisumu County.
The line will run from Sondu through Ahero to Kisumu Town and continue toward Malaba via Kisumu West Sub-County.
Nyong’o announced after a consultative meeting with Members of Parliament and Members of the County Assembly from affected areas.
Officials from Kenya Railways, the National Land Commission, and representatives of the national government also attended.
He said discussions centred on compensation for landowners and communities that will be affected, youth participation in construction, and potential environmental and social impacts.
“We resolved that all relevant agencies will conduct grassroots consultations in local villages as implementation begins,” Nyong’o added.
According to Kenya Railways, the proposed SGR Phase 2B will feature 79 railway bridges, eight tunnels, 376 culverts, and 26 stations in the initial phase.
The project will also include an 8.68-kilometre branch line linking the main railway to the proposed Kisumu Port, aimed at boosting cargo movement along the Northern Corridor.
The Naivasha–Malaba extension, part of the broader 475-kilometre expansion plan, is estimated to cost Sh645.8 billion (approximately $5 billion).
It will traverse Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisumu and Busia counties, strengthening regional trade connectivity with Uganda and the wider East African Community.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir previously told Parliament on November 8, 2025, that the government plans to finance the extension through the Railway Development Levy Fund (RDLF).
The levy imposes a 2 P.c charge on imports to support railway infrastructure.
“We will basically look at financial markets and the available instruments, leveraging, of course, on the RDLF revenues. A railway should attract long-term borrowing, and we are looking at a 15-year facility; the 2pc RDLF charge is sufficient to support us,” Chirchir said.
He added that the government is also exploring the issuance of infrastructure bonds and concessional loans from development banks to plug financing gaps.
The SGR project has been central to Kenya’s infrastructure agenda under successive administrations, but its expansion beyond Naivasha has faced funding and feasibility challenges.
If implemented as scheduled, the extension to Kisumu and onward to Malaba could reshape regional trade flows, enhance port-rail integration, and reinforce Kenya’s position as a transport hub in East Africa.
However, observers note that transparent procurement, sustainable financing, and timely compensation will be critical to avoid the legal disputes and public debt concerns that dogged earlier SGR phases.
