Presidents William Ruto and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today officially launched construction of the Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2C, tightening the first symbolic bolts at Kibos in a powerful show of regional unity.
The 107-kilometre line will extend Kenya’s modern rail network from Kisumu to the Ugandan border, creating a near-1,000-kilometre seamless corridor from Mombasa Port all the way to Malaba — and positioning Kenya as the logistical backbone of East and Central Africa.
The ceremony drew thousands of residents, regional leaders and dignitaries, including ODM leader Oburu Odinga, who joined the high-profile event. The launch signals the long-awaited start of works on a project expected to dramatically cut transport costs, accelerate cargo movement, and unlock massive economic potential across the Western Corridor and Lake Region.
Speaking earlier in the week, President Ruto described the extension as a strategic economic lifeline for western Kenya — a region rich in tea, maize, sugar, rice and a thriving Lake Victoria fisheries sector — now set to gain faster, cheaper access to regional and global markets.
Once complete, the Kisumu-Malaba line will serve as the vital gateway for freight from Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other landlocked neighbours. Designed to carry up to 4,000 tonnes per train, the railway promises lower business costs, stronger agro-processing industries and accelerated growth throughout the East African Community.
The project — on track for completion by June 2027 — also includes an 8.9-kilometre spur to the new Kisumu Port, further boosting multimodal connectivity.
The launch followed President Ruto’s high-level meeting with Nyanza leaders at State Lodge, where he outlined accelerated development plans as part of his four-day tour of western Kenya.
With both heads of state standing together at Kibos, the message was unmistakable: East Africa is moving forward — faster, stronger, and united.
Kenya’s SGR vision is no longer on paper. Construction is rolling — and the entire region stands to benefit.
