Kenya Railways has officially kicked off construction works for the 475-kilometre Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Narok County, marking a major turning point for the long-awaited project.
The groundbreaking of the Ksh700 billion project was confirmed by Kenya Railways on July 1 in Narok County, which holds a significant piece of this puzzle, with roughly 100 kilometres of the railway expected to traverse the corridor that will eventually stretch across multiple counties.
“Today marks a historic milestone as the official construction works for the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Project have commenced in Narok County,” stated Kenya Railways.
“Narok County, which covers approximately 100 kilometres of the SGR corridor, plays a critical role in this transformative infrastructure project.”
Snippets of the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR project initiated on July 1.
Photo
Kenya Railways
The development comes months after President William Ruto launched the ambitious railway project on March 18, setting the stage for what is now full-blown construction activity on the ground.
On the contentious issue of land, the railway corporation said that it is collaborating closely with the National Land Commission (NLC) on matters of land acquisition, with officers already deployed to oversee the exercise and ready to compensate over 3,500 land owners.
Once complete, the line will connect Kenya directly to the Uganda border at Malaba, opening up new trade possibilities across the Great Lakes region.
The project has been split into two key phases, starting with the Naivasha to Kisumu stretch, known as Phase 2B, covering about 264 kilometres.
This phase also includes an 8.69-kilometre branch line that will link directly to the busy Kisumu Port, intended to ease cargo movement significantly.
Additionally, the second phase, Kisumu to Malaba (Phase 2C), covers 107 kilometres and will cut through Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega and Busia counties before reaching the border.
The railway is expected to connect with the 272-kilometre Kampala-Malaba SGR, which President Ruto and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni agreed upon in March.
To support this cross-border vision, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) approved a Ksh95 billion (€650.75 million) financing package in June, dedicated to Uganda’s SGR project, with the entire Naivasha-Malaba extension now targeted for completion by June or August 2027.
President William Ruto and his Ugandan Counterpart Yoweri Museveni during the groundbreaking of the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba on March 21, 2026.
Photo
Kenya Railways
