In a milestone for Kenya’s transport and trade ambitions, President William Ruto joined his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, to launch the Narok–Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension on March 21, 2026.
The ceremony at the Kibos SGR site in Kisumu highlighted Kenya’s commitment to modern infrastructure that links regions and boosts cross-border trade.
Addressing the gathering, Ruto highlighted the transformative impact of the existing Mombasa–Nairobi–Naivasha SGR line. “Over the past 8 years, the SGR has transported more than 15 million passengers and over 45 million tonnes of freight.
It has reduced transport cost, improved efficiency and contributed significantly to the growth of our economy,” he said, underscoring the railway’s role in reducing road congestion, lowering logistics costs, and facilitating commerce.
Freight operations along the line generate over Sh1.3 billion monthly, while passenger revenue tops Sh4 billion annually, growing at about 40 per cent.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi noted the railway’s efficiency, saying a single SGR trip can carry 4,000 tonnes of cargo, replacing roughly 200 trucks along the route to Uganda. He described the project, linking Mombasa, Naivasha, Kisumu, and Malaba, as a landmark undertaking set to connect Kenya and Uganda, spur regional trade, and accelerate economic growth.
The newly inaugurated 369-kilometre extension, costing Sh500 billion, will stretch from Naivasha through Narok and Kisumu to Malaba at the Kenya–Uganda border. Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir called it a “regional game-changer,” explaining that the railway will reduce road reliance, improve transport safety, quicken cargo movement, and foster economic activity along the Northern Corridor.
Ruto addressed critics who once labelled sections of the SGR a “railway to nowhere.” “It was never a railway to nowhere; it was always our plan that this Kisumu–Malaba SGR was going to be a railway to prosperity and the transformation of Kenya,” he said, adding that the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, fondly referred to as “Baba,” would be proud of the development.
The launch also reinforced bilateral ties, with both leaders committing to East African integration. During the event, Oburu Odinga voiced concerns about harassment of Kenyan fishermen on Lake Victoria, urging Museveni to ensure free movement in shared waters.
President Ruto reassured Kenyans that the country’s development drive continues despite skepticism. “To the naysayers, the people who don’t believe in the transformation of Kenya, we want to persuade them that it may take a little while… We are ready for you when the time comes,” he said.
The Narok–Kisumu–Malaba SGR is expected to open new trade corridors, stimulate industrial growth, and expand tourism opportunities, solidifying Kenya’s position as a logistics and economic hub in East Africa.
The current SGR expansion seeks to restore and modernize that vision of regional connectivity.
The Kisumu–Malaba section, measuring about 107 km, will complete a nearly 1,000-km rail link from Mombasa to the Kenya–Uganda border, forming part of a broader network planned to extend to Kampala and other East African Community (EAC) states.
The railway is expected to serve countries including Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening Kenya’s role as a regional logistics hub.
“Our economies are not generating sufficient opportunities to match the pace of our rapidly growing populations. At the same time, our businesses continue to grapple with high logistics costs that undermine competitiveness,” Ruto said.
“In many cases, transport and related costs account for between 30 and 40 per cent of the final value of goods.”
Currently, cargo takes about 80 hours to move from Mombasa to Malaba and over 100 hours to reach Kampala.
With the new SGR sections, freight costs are projected to drop by at least 40 per cent per tonne per kilometre, while transit times could fall by nearly 30 per cent.