President William Ruto has announced plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aiming to enhance regional trade and investment.

Speaking during the opening of the East Africa Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa, Ruto said the importance of this infrastructure expansion is for strengthening connectivity across East Africa.

“We have now agreed with Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC that the Standard Gauge Railway will be extended from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC so that we both can use the SGR whenever we are going to these places,” he said on Saturday.

The President highlighted that the extension would significantly improve cross-border transportation, making movement between the countries easier and more efficient.

“These pieces of infrastructure are important for the integration of our region,” Ruto added.

The extension of the SGR is expected to boost intra-regional trade, which currently stands at 28 per cent while supporting broader economic integration within the East African Community (EAC).

President William Ruto and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula during the opening of the East Africa Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa on December 7, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

Ruto further noted that the project could pave the way for a more integrated African continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Groundwork

Uganda has already begun the groundwork for the SGR project, with the first phase set to cover a 272 km stretch from Malaba to Kampala, expected to be completed in approximately four years.

Meanwhile, Kenya is moving forward with plans to develop the Naivasha to Kisumu SGR line, aiming to begin operations in January 2025.

Residents from five counties are set to benefit from the planned extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba expected to take years to complete.

The government in November 2024, commenced the third phase of the extension, with feasibility studies already underway.

The planned SGR extension will run from Naivasha to Malaba passing through Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira and Kisumu counties.

The government has earmarked the construction of Phase 2B and 2C of the railway which is set to commence in 2025 with an estimated cost of Sh648 billion.

The 475-kilometer extension project is viewed as a game-changer for the agricultural, trade, tourism, and transport sectors in the affected regions.

Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar had said the SGR extension will play a key economic role in connecting Kenya with the greater East African region.

“We are in top gear to ensure we extend the line to Kisumu and then Malaba, thereby allowing us to connect with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said.

The SGR extension is part of the larger East African Railway Master Plan, aimed at replacing the existing meter-gauge railways across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.