Kenya Railways unveils plan to extend SGR from Lamu to Ethiopia

Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar has revealed fresh government plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Lamu all the way to Ethiopia. The line would link Kenya to a market of around 50 to 60 million people and continue on to South Sudan.

Daghar made the announcement during the 62nd graduation ceremony at the Railway Training Institute in Nairobi. He said the extension forms part of the wider Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport corridor.

The LAPSSET project includes a planned 2,900 kilometre railway network spanning Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. It connects to Lamu Port at Manda Bay, where three berths are already operational for large vessels.

The corridor also covers roads, pipelines for crude oil and refined products, resort cities and the High Grand Falls Dam on the Tana River. Officials see it as a key part of Kenya Vision 2030 that could boost national GDP by 2 to 3 per cent.

The railway extension would improve trade links with Ethiopia and support regional connectivity. Once complete, it would tie in with other SGR lines such as Naivasha to Kisumu and Uganda’s Kampala to Malaba route.

No specific timelines or cost details were given for the Lamu to Ethiopia section. Progress will depend on funding, land acquisition and coordination with partner countries.

Construction of earlier SGR phases has already created demand for engineering works, materials and skilled labour. Further extension would likely bring similar opportunities in Lamu and northern Kenya.

The Railway Training Institute is expanding its programmes, including plans for a campus in Kisumu. This aims to build more local capacity for future rail projects.

LAPSSET has drawn public discussion on its potential to transform northern Kenya through better port access and trade routes. The project involves Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.