NAIROBI, Kenya – Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has welcomed the agreement signed by President William Ruto during his recent state visit to China, which will see the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) finally extended from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba.
In a statement issued on April 26, Nyong’o thanked President Ruto for successfully negotiating the financing of the long-awaited SGR extension with the Chinese government.
“On behalf of the people of Kisumu, I sincerely thank His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto for securing the financing of the SGR from Nakuru through Kisumu, connecting Kenya to Uganda via Malaba,” Nyong’o said.
He emphasized that the extension plan had been on the drawing board for years, and its realization is a major milestone for the Lake Region. “This is welcome news. Kudos, Mr. President,” he added.
The governor noted that the new railway line would be a game-changer for Western Kenya’s economy. He said it would boost the operations of the refurbished Kisumu Port, enhance trade, tourism, and passenger transport, and strengthen regional integration across East Africa.
“We thank President Ruto for this important project,” Nyong’o said, underscoring the wider impact the project will have on the region.
The SGR extension is part of Kenya’s broader strategy to modernize its transportation infrastructure and deepen regional connectivity. The Naivasha-Kisumu section, officially known as Phase 2B of the SGR, will stretch 262.3 kilometers and include an 8.9-kilometer branch line leading directly to the proposed Kisumu Port.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir confirmed that the railway will feature 25 stations, with 15 to be operational at launch and 10 reserved for future development.
The construction contract for this phase was signed back in March 2016 between Kenya Railways Corporation and China Communications Construction Company. The project scope also includes civil works, the delivery of 35 locomotives, 724 wagons, and 64 passenger coaches, alongside the construction of the new Kisumu Port, estimated at Sh17.8 billion.
Meanwhile, the Kisumu-Malaba section, designated as Phase 2C, will cover an additional 107.27 kilometers. Its construction contract, also signed in March 2016, is valued at Sh1.5 billion. Completion is expected between 36 and 54 months after works commence.
The SGR project, first launched in 2014, has already transformed Kenya’s transport landscape, and this latest expansion is expected to solidify Kisumu’s position as a vital economic and trade hub.
