Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has applauded the national government’s plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu, a development he believes will significantly enhance connectivity and open up new avenues for business and trade.
The extension, which will eventually reach Malaba on the Kenya-Uganda border, is expected to revolutionise operations at the newly renovated Kisumu Port.
Nyong’o emphasised that the project would create thousands of jobs, contributing to the growth of the local economy.
“The route for the SGR line from Duka Moja in Nakuru County to Kisumu has already been mapped, reflecting the government’s commitment to completing the project,” he said.
Last year, Nyong’o requested the government to consider extending the SGR to Kisumu.
In August, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei confirmed that the second phase of the SGR to Kisumu and Malaba will be carried out under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Construction of the first phase of SGR.
The SGR project is part of the broader Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, which aims to establish trade routes between Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
Phase one of the SGR project was completed at a cost of Sh656 billion.
