The government is moving forward with plans to expand the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu, a project that will require the acquisition of more than 5,000 acres of land, mostly in Kisumu County.
The extension is expected to continue all the way to Malaba at the Kenyan-Ugandan border, enhancing transport and trade links across the region.
Joel Ombati Nyamweya, director of valuation and taxation at the National Land Commission, confirmed that the commission will acquire the land while ensuring that affected owners receive fair compensation.
“We will acquire more than 5,000 acres of land for this SGR project. Most of these parcels are concentrated within Kisumu County,” he said, emphasizing transparency in the process.
The SGR Phase 2B line will start at the Nairobi–Naivasha terminus, passing through Narok, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu, and Ahero before ending in Kisumu. Plans from the Kenya Railways Corporation also include upgrades at Kisumu port, featuring an 8-kilometre branch line, two multi-purpose berths, and workboat berths to facilitate ship docking safely.
The government has earmarked Sh47.55 billion for land acquisition as part of the overall extension costs. A report from the National Treasury estimates the entire Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba SGR project will cost about Sh502.9 billion, with Sh455.35 billion expected from foreign financiers.
Previous land purchases along the Mombasa–Nairobi SGR line show the scale of the compensation challenge, with taxpayers paying Sh30.2 billion for 4,600 hectares, averaging Sh6,565,217 per acre. The National Land Commission had delegated payment of compensation to KRC, which faced criticism over alleged inconsistencies in the process.
Nyamweya said new measures will be put in place to ensure accountability, including digital data collection and on-the-ground committees to resolve disputes as they arise. These steps aim to prevent delays and promote trust among landowners while the ambitious railway expansion moves forward.
