Kenyan Govt Seeks Over KSh 700b To Extend SGR To Malaba In Deal With EAC Partners

• Kenya, in collaboration with Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is embarking on an ambitious project to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)
• SGR extension will stretch from its current endpoint in Naivasha to Malaba and further to Rwanda, enhancing connectivity and trade within the East African Community
• Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, emphasised the project’s role in promoting climate-resilient infrastructure to address environmental challenges

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

Kenya is set to forge a groundbreaking partnership with Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network.

This landmark announcement came following the signing of a joint communique on Friday, May 3, in Nairobi.

The extension project will see the SGR, which currently spans from Mombasa to Naivasha, extended to Malaba and through Uganda and onwards to Rwanda.

As part of the collaborative effort, the five nations involved will jointly seek funding for the ambitious SGR expansion project.

“This historic move seeks to enable joint resource mobilization, expedite the completion of the construction of the remaining SGR sections from Naivasha in Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and DRC, and develop a roadmap that will fast-track its implementation," said Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport.

Speaking at a ministerial meeting in Mombasa, Murkomen reiterated the commitment to completing the remaining sections of the SGR, emphasising the importance of private-sector partnerships in realising this vision.

“The ultimate objective under the African-Infrastructure Network is to ensure we connect the East Coast here in Mombasa and the West Coast through Douala in Cameroon. We desire to make sure the seamless connectivity happens from our sister countries all the way to DRC,” Murkomen stated.

He further disclosed the estimated cost of the project, which amounts to approximately 5.3 billion USD (equivalent to KSh 700 billion), emphasising its feasibility and reasonable investment value.

Highlighting the significance of climate resilience in infrastructure development, Murkomen stressed the importance of constructing infrastructure capable of withstanding the challenges posed by climate change.

“Considering the phenomenon that is in our region, Rwanda, Tanzania, and all other places where we are facing climate change, when we are constructing infrastructures like SGR, we must be cognizant of also climate resilient infrastructure, meaning we must contribute to the greenhouse emissions and put mitigation measures," he explained.

Kenya to extend SGR to Kisumu

Earlier on TUKO.co.ke, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o welcomed the announcement that the extension of the SGR to Kisumu will begin this year, terming it good news.

Nyong’o sees the extension of the SGR as a catalyst for economic growth in the region and anticipates a significant boost in lake transport.

Murkomen announced that the government is planning to complete 35% of the project by December this year.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke