Kenya Railways to Acquire 25 More Parcels of Land for Nairobi-Naivasha SGR Expansion

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train in transit
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train in transit.
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African Marketing Confederation

The National Land Commission (NLC) has made deletions, corrections, and additions to the original list of land parcels that were set aside for the construction of the Nairobi - Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) projects.

In a gazette notice dated October 6, NLC Chairperson Gersom Otachi, 25 parcels totalling up to 4.8585 hectares will be acquired, 11 parcels totalling up to 1.1373 hectares will be deleted, and 2, totalling up to 0.1442 hectares, will undergo amendments.

The commission said that the changes made to the 38 parcels of land have been executed on behalf of the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), according to Otachi.

"In pursuance of the Land Act, Part VIII and further to Gazette Notices No. 8480 of 2020, 1215, 6373, 6374 of 2021 and 6995 of 17th June, 2022. National Land Commission, on behalf of the KRC, gives notice that the National Government intends to delete, correct, and add parcels of land listed below for the construction of the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway Project (PHASE 2A)," the notice read.

Part of the Standard Gauge Railway to the Meter Gauge Railway under construction, Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
Part of the Standard Gauge Railway to the Meter Gauge Railway under construction, Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
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Kenya Railways

Individuals affected by the process will be required to submit a written claim for compensation to NLC offices, accompanied by other documents such as ID, land ownership documents, and bank account details, according to Otachi.

"The Commission offices are in Ardhi House, 3rd Floor, Room 305, 1st Ngong Avenue, Nairobi, and at the Commission’s County coordinators’ offices in Kajiado and Nakuru Counties," it added.

The Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, Phase 2A, is a 120-kilometer extension of the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR, connecting the capital to Naivasha.
 
This railway forms the Northern Corridor, which connects Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has asserted that the construction of the second phase aims to raise the rail freight share to 60 per cent.

"The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) spans 592 km from Mombasa to Naivasha, forming a backbone for the Northern Corridor, which connects Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and DRC. A second phase of 369 km is underway, aiming to raise the rail freight share to 60 per cent," Chirchir stated.
 
"Kenya's transport modernisation is closely aligned with Vision 2030, aiming for a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life," he added.
 
The CS, who revealed this on Wednesday, October 1, said that the government is also in the process of unveiling other transport projects that include 165 kilometres of commuter rail, 300 kilometres of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, as well as new walkways and cycling tracks in Nairobi.
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An image of the wagons used on Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway
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