The third phase of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project kicks off. This phase extends the railway from Naivasha to Malaba. Passing through Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira, and Kisumu counties, the route takes 475-kilometers.
The feasibility studies is already in progress and engagement with residents in the affected areas is on. Construction will start next year and has a cost of aproximately KSh648 billion. The project is set to take four years to complete. Engineers from Kenya Railways have started mapping the route. Officials have promised fair compensation to residents for affected land and property.
Transport PS Mohamed Daghar emphasized the project’s importance. He said the extension will connect Kisumu and Malaba to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The SGR expansion is also part of a plan to modernize East Africa’s railways. The plan includes upgrading railways in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with future links to Rwanda and the DRC.
The project will benefit the five counties along the route. Improved infrastructure will also create new trade corridors. Transporting goods will become easier, and regional trade will grow. The railway will also attract more tourists to previously hard-to-reach destinations.
Narok County will gain significantly. The Maasai Mara National Reserve, known for the wildebeest migration, is a major attraction. Affordable and efficient transport from Nairobi and Kisumu will draw more visitors to the reserve.
The SGR expansion will unlock untapped economic opportunities. It will strengthen trade and showcase hidden tourist attractions along the route.
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