Ruto, Museveni Launch Sh500 Billion Kisumu–Malaba SGR Extension
By President William Ruto, alongside his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni, has officially launched the Sh500 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Kisumu to Malaba.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held at Kibos SGR station in Kisumu County, signals the start of construction on a major railway expected to reshape trade, passenger movement, and regional connectivity. Once complete, the line will link western Kenya directly to Uganda’s rail network, creating new economic opportunities for businesses and communities along the corridor.
The extension is designed to ease cargo transport from the Port of Mombasa to Uganda and other landlocked countries, while also promoting industrial growth. Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth rollout and efficient construction process.
“We have come to Kisumu to assess readiness for the SGR extension from Naivasha to Kisumu and ultimately to Malaba. This is a significant moment we will celebrate with our President and President Museveni as we launch this transformative project,” he said.
President Ruto emphasized the railway’s strategic importance to Kenya’s position as a regional trade hub. Speaking earlier in Narok County, he noted, “By extending this railway to Kisumu and eventually to Malaba, we are strengthening Kenya’s role as the logistical backbone of East and Central Africa.”
He described the project as part of a broader national plan to enhance connectivity, lower business costs, and boost Kenya’s competitiveness in continental trade.
The Narok–Kisumu segment, spanning 262.3km and forming Phase 2B of the SGR, is expected to deliver significant economic benefits. Key sectors in western Kenya—including tea, maize, sugar, and rice production, as well as the fisheries industry around Lake Victoria—stand to gain improved access to markets and industrial inputs.
The Kisumu launch followed President Ruto’s meeting with regional leaders at State Lodge as part of his four-day development tour of the Nyanza region.
Overall, the 369km extension from Naivasha through Narok and Kisumu to Malaba is set to reduce reliance on road transport, enhance both cargo and passenger services, and strengthen trade links between key urban centres.
“This railway is more than a construction project; it is a regional game-changer. It will unlock new opportunities for trade, industry, and travel, benefiting both Kenya and Uganda,” added CS Chirchir.
The project marks a significant step in Kenya’s efforts to modernise its railway infrastructure and position East Africa as a competitive hub for trade and transport.