President Ruto to oversee Sh300 million SGR station in Nyamira

President William Ruto has announced that the government will spend KSh300 million to build a major railway station in Ikonge, Nyamira County. The announcement came on Monday during a development tour of the Gusii region, where the President sought to address local concerns regarding the route of the Standard Gauge Railway extension.

The decision to locate a station at Ikonge follows recent public debate over whether the county would benefit from the multi-billion shilling rail project. President Ruto clarified that the facility is a firm part of the infrastructure plan, intended to serve as a logistics hub for the region's agricultural output.

The Ikonge station is expected to facilitate the transport of local produce, specifically tea, bananas, and macadamia nuts, to markets in Nairobi and beyond. During his address to residents, President Ruto emphasized that the station would provide a direct link for goods and passengers, integrated into the broader Western Kenya transport network.

The project is part of the SGR Phase 2B, which extends the line from Naivasha to Kisumu. This extension was officially launched on March 19, 2026, in Narok County. The government plans for the railway to eventually reach Malaba at the Ugandan border, creating a continuous link from the Port of Mombasa to the hinterland.

Technical details for the Naivasha to Malaba extension indicate a massive engineering undertaking. The 475-kilometre stretch will feature 79 bridges, eight tunnels, and 376 culverts. Once completed, the entire extension will host 26 stations, including the newly confirmed site in Nyamira.

Construction for the Naivasha to Kisumu leg is projected to conclude by June 2027. Kenya Railways officials have previously noted that the route is designed to support future electrification, though current operations will focus on establishing the primary track and intermediate stations.

In addition to the railway project, the President used the Nyamira tour to highlight other infrastructure investments. He noted that the government has allocated KSh300 million for electricity connectivity in the area, aiming to add 20,000 homes to the national grid.

The confirmation of the Ikonge station appears to be a strategic move to secure support for the railway in the agricultural heartland. By providing a dedicated stop in Nyamira, the government intends to lower logistics costs for farmers who currently rely on road transport to move perishables to the capital.