The extension of the standard gauge railway (SGR) from Naivasha to the Malaba border has finally received approval from the Kenyan government. Uganda has praised the announcement, adding that it will connect the towns of Mombasa and Kampala.
By the end of June 2027, Kenya plans to extend the SGR to Kisumu, Malaba, and Isiolo for KSh2.1 trillion (Ush56t). Ms. Susan Kataike, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Works and Transport, applauded the developments in Kenya yesterday because Uganda has been pressuring its neighbor to extend the railway to the border in accordance with the connectivity agreements from 2014.
The regional leaders from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda proposed the idea in 2014. However, the Kenyan government cut the line off when it reached Naivasha. The SGR project in Uganda was not funded by the Chinese funders either.
Due to political and financial concerns, the Kenyan government turned down additional money for the project from the Chinese financial institution. The railway is the most affordable form of transportation, and it relieves stress on the road network, which is frequently impacted by bad weather and social issues. The SGR will be expanded from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba, according to Daily Business.