• Kenya to start Naivasha-Kisumu SGR extension in March
• 264-km line due for completion by June 2027
• Project aims to link Kenya rail to Uganda network

Kenya will begin construction in March on the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu, Kenya Railways said. The 264-km line is scheduled for completion by June 2027.

The state rail operator said preparatory works are already under way to advance what it described as a strategic project for both the national and regional rail network.

The first phase includes 79 railway bridges spanning a combined 43 km, eight tunnels totaling 14.26 km, and 376 culverts covering about 7 km. The project also provides for 26 stations, including one main station, six intermediate stations and 18 crossing stations. It also includes a freight port facility and an 8.68-km link to the planned port of Kisumu.

The announcement marks renewed momentum for a project that had stalled for years due to funding constraints after completion of the Mombasa-Naivasha section in 2019. China, which financed the initial stretch, did not back the extension.

Authorities say the new segment will provide a direct link to Uganda’s rail network, which is under construction. Uganda is the largest transit market for the port of Mombasa, and the connection is expected to strengthen regional logistics integration.

Once completed, the line is expected to enable continuous rail transport between Mombasa and Kampala without transshipment. Officials say this should ease cargo movement across the region and reduce pressure on congested roads. Additional extensions are planned to link the network to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda.

Henoc Dossa