Editor's Review

President William Ruto has announced plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Voi to Tanzania. 

President William Ruto has announced plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line to Tanzania. 

Speaking on Sunday, September 27, during a church service in Mwatate, President Ruto said the SGR will be extended from Voi to Taveta and then into neighboring Tanzania. 

“During the Jubilee government, we started constructing the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Nairobi, and then extended it to Naivasha. 

“Now, we have taken it from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba through Bungoma. But I said that even as we build the railway linking our East African Community, it would also be good to connect Voi to Tanzania,” said Ruto. 

The Head of State noted that the government has already allocated Ksh5 billion for the extension of the railway line. 

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File image of President William Ruto breaking ground for the SGR extension from Naivasha to Kisumu. 

President Ruto also mentioned that SGR stations will be set up in Mwatate, Bura, Mwakitau and Taveta. 

“We have allocated nearly Ksh5 billion for the project. We will build a major station here in Mwatate, and others in Bura, Mwakitau and Taveta, before extending the railway into Tanzania,” Ruto added. 

The President’s announcement comes months after he launched the extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu. 

Speaking during the launch in Narok County, President Ruto said the extension of the SGR is necessary to unlock its full potential.

He pointed out that the SGR is currently incomplete as it does not reach the major production zones in the western Kenya region.

“A railway that terminates at Narok is incomplete because it does not reach the major production zones of western Kenya, it does not connect with the lake transport system in Kisumu, and it does not capture the full volume of outbound freight that sustains the modern rail economy in the eastern African region,” Ruto stated.

President Ruto also said the SGR extension will connect the industrial corridor in Nairobi to the agricultural heartland of Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kericho, Busia, and Kisumu counties.

The Head of State observed that the 6 counties hold immense economic potential, which will be accelerated by the railway line.

“This corridor holds immense economic potential. Western Kenya produces tea, maize, sugar, and rice, and supports a vibrant fishing sector in Lake Victoria and also supplies critical inputs for agricultural processing and industrialization,” Ruto added.