Ruto and Museveni to break ground for 369km SGR extension to Malaba

Preparations have entered the final stage at Kibos in Kisumu County ahead of the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Standard Gauge Railway extension. President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, are expected to preside over the event on Saturday, March 21, marking the commencement of Phase 2B and 2C of the modern rail project.

The planned 369-kilometer corridor will extend the existing line from Naivasha through Kisumu and onward to the Malaba border. This section is designed to integrate the Kenyan rail network with Uganda and the broader East African transport system, aiming to move significant volumes of cargo from the road to the rail.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, who inspected the Kibos site on Monday, confirmed that the government is satisfied with the level of readiness. According to the Ministry, the project is a critical response to the current heavy reliance on trucks along the Northern Corridor. Chirchir noted that the transition to rail will facilitate faster movement of goods to markets while enhancing the mobility of people across the region.

Technical specifications for the new line indicate a complex engineering undertaking. The route will feature 79 railway bridges with a combined length of approximately 43 kilometers. Additionally, the project includes the construction of eight tunnels totaling 14.26 kilometers and 376 culverts.

Infrastructure plans for the initial phase also detail the delivery of 26 stations. These will consist of one major station, six intermediate stations, and 18 crossing stations. A dedicated freight port facility will be established to handle the expected surge in regional trade volumes.

A notable feature of the design is an 8.68-kilometer branch line that will link the main railway artery directly to the proposed Kisumu Port. This connection is intended to revive Lake Victoria as a viable logistics hub for fuel and bulk cargo destined for the regional hinterland.

Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga has indicated that Phase 2B of the line is targeted for completion by June 2027. The project timeline follows months of engagement with county leadership in Narok and Kisumu to secure the right-of-way and address compensation for affected persons.

The extension arrives as Uganda also fast-tracks its segment of the railway. Recent reports indicate that the Ugandan government is finalizing a 13 trillion UgX loan to fund the Malaba to Kampala line. Together, these projects are expected to reduce freight costs significantly and eliminate the persistent bottlenecks that currently slow down cross-border trade at Malaba.

Beyond the railway, the government is also launching road projects to complement the logistics corridor. This includes the dualing of the Rironi to Maai Mahiu to Naivasha road, which serves as a primary artery for heavy vehicles. The convergence of these rail and road investments in 2026 reflects a broader policy to modernize the national logistics framework ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.