Kenya has confirmed plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu through the southern corridor. Earlier proposals through Nakuru and Eldoret have been dropped.
The decision follows a technical assessment that identified KES 99.68 billion ($772.7 million) in savings and found the route most suitable in terms of engineering feasibility and cost.
Route Details
The southern alignment will cover 489.57 kilometres from Nairobi to Kisumu, continuing to Malaba. It will pass through Naivasha, Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nyamira, and Kisumu. The line will include 25 stations, with intermediate stops at Narok, Mulot, Bomet, Sondu, Ahero, and Kibos.
An 8.69‑kilometre spur will connect the line to Kisumu Port on Lake Victoria. Passenger trains will run at 120 km/h, freight trains at 80 km/h.
Corridor Evaluation
Three corridors were assessed: northern, middle, and southern. The southern route was selected because it:
- Requires $772.7M less investment than the northern option.
- Is 31 km shorter than the middle corridor.
- Crosses 133 km of seismic zones, 80 km less than the middle route.
- Encounters fewer Rift Valley fault areas.
Regional Integration
The Kisumu link positions the SGR for connection with Uganda’s planned line from Malaba to Kampala. This will create a continuous corridor from Mombasa through Nairobi and Kisumu into Uganda. The extension will support cargo flows to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DRC. It will also link rail transport with Lake Victoria shipping.
EAC Endorses Multinational Expressway Linking Kenya and Uganda
Economic Outlook
The line will establish logistics hubs in Narok, Bomet, Sotik, and Kisumu. Freight and passenger operations will reduce transport time and costs. The corridor will strengthen Kenya’s role in regional trade and support integration under the AfCFTA framework.
