The construction of the Standard Guage Railway (SGR) extension from Nakuru to Kisumu is expected to commence this year.
In a statement by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, the government is aiming to do 35 per cent of the project by December 2024.
Initially, the SGR was to run from Mombasa to Kisumu. However, the project started by former President Uhuru Kenyatta stalled in Nakuru due to inadequate funds.
The first phase of the SGR, which cost taxpayers over Ksh350 billion, was financed by the Chinese government.
"Our commitment is to construct 35 per cent of SGR Phase 2B (Naivasha - Kisumu) by the end of 2024," he stated.
However, the exact commencement date and the cost of construction are yet to be made public.
Ultimately, the SGR is expected to be extended from Kisumu to Uganda as detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Kenya and Uganda on July 28, 2023.
According to the MOU, the railway line will be used for the transportation of goods and passengers enhancing trade between Kenya and Uganda.
The two countries are key trade partners with the latter depending on Kenya for the transportation of key products such as fuel through the Mombasa - Nairobi - Kisumu - Malaba highways.
On the other hand, the CS revealed that the government would commence construction of four Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) lines across the country.
Among them is Embakasi - Ruai, Ngong - Kiserian, SGR Terminus - Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Voi - Taveta.
"The key commitment is to increase MGR passenger numbers to six million by the end of the year," he stated.
