By Anderson Ojwang
Today in Kisumu, a new dawn rises—a ray of hope and a beginning—marking a bold step forward in connecting regions and unlocking opportunity.
History is repeating itself. On December 20, 1901, the first train reached Port Florence, marking the completion of the Uganda Railway line from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. This was a critical development for transport and the subsequent founding of Kisumu City, with the movement of goods and passengers beginning shortly after in 1903.
Today, a new chapter opens in Kisumu as President William Ruto will launch the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, which will bring Kenya closer to a fully connected regional railway network.
The project is expected to unlock trade, just like the Uganda Railway, create jobs, and transform livelihoods across Western Kenya.
President Ruto said that in 2014 they embarked on a bold task of replacing the 130-year-old colonial railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu, and that today marks a milestone.
“In 2014, we embarked on the bold task of replacing the 130-year-old colonial railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu, infamously called the ‘Lunatic Express’, with a modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The first phase of the SGR, running from Mombasa to Naivasha, was initially dismissed by skeptics as a ‘railway to nowhere’, but today, it stands vindicated as a transformative backbone of our national transport system, driving efficiency in the movement of goods and passengers.”
He said the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR project will advance the next phase.
“We are now advancing the next phase by extending the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually to Malaba.
The Naivasha-Kisumu main line will span 264km, complemented by an 8.69km line branching to the proposed new Kisumu Port, while the Kisumu-Malaba section will cover 107km, seamlessly linking Kenya to Uganda and the wider region.
Traversing nine counties, this strategic corridor will significantly ease the movement of people, goods, and services.”
President Ruto said the corridor holds immense economic potential.
“Western Kenya produces tea, maize, sugar, and rice, supports a vibrant fisheries sector in the Lake Victoria region, and supplies critical inputs for agro-processing and industry.”
He said there was sound economic logic underpinning the project.
“Every reduction in logistics costs translates into lower food prices, more affordable construction, and greater industrial competitiveness.
Second, it will increase freight volumes and economic activity by linking production zones directly to the rail network, transforming the SGR into a two-way economic system.”
President Ruto said this is how the railway secures its full economic value.
“The SGR will decongest our roads. Each freight train removes hundreds of trucks from our highways, reducing accidents, lowering maintenance costs, and saving lives.
It will also position Kisumu as a major logistics hub, integrating rail, road, and lake transport.”
President Ruto said he is fully conscious that this is a major investment.
“This railway will be built for performance: it will be freight-driven, phased and demand-driven, leverage innovative financing mechanisms, and be integrated with logistics hubs and multi-modal transport systems.”
President Ruto said the project is about the future of trade in the Great Lakes region.
“Today, Kenya serves as their primary gateway, but that position is neither permanent nor guaranteed and must be secured and strengthened.
By extending this railway, we are consolidating Kenya’s role as the logistical backbone of East and Central Africa.”
Ruto said when complete, the project will establish a continuous railway artery of nearly 1,000km from Mombasa to Malaba.
Kisumu Governor said the region looks forward to the project opening up the economy and spurring growth and development.
“This milestone marks a major step forward in infrastructure development, opening up new opportunities for growth, connectivity, and regional integration.”
