The rehabilitation of the old Nakuru-Kisumu Railway line is taking shape with the project expected to be completed in April 2021.
Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o in a press release to media houses on Sunday, January 10 revealed that the railway line is expected to be complete by April.
The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is fast-tracking the rehabilitation of the railway line after it was allocated a Ksh3.7 Billion budget.
KRC last week demolished kiosks in Obunga, Kisumu which is the largest fish market in the city to pave way for the construction of a train station.
The traders were, however, relocated to Obunga Sports Complex where the county government is aiming to reclaim grabbed public land.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga toured Kisumu to inspect various projects in the Lakeside city.
According to sources, the president is keen on completion of development projects in the city before the end of his tenure in 2022.
"Plans are at an advanced stage and the president was interested in knowing the progress of the plans to revive the railway line," an official revealed to Standard.
The revival of the 217-kilometre Nakuru-Kisumu line is being undertaken by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Engineers Brigade.
The KDF on Sunday revealed that the Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) project is still in the pipeline with the 2021 deadline set to be achieved.
"The Nakuru - Kisumu Railway line is on course. #Stay positive, #Restore/fix that which is broken in 2021!," read a post from KDF
On Saturday, January 2 Kenya Railways announced that they are set to launch the Nairobi-Kisumu line this year after years of dilapidation.
"In 2020 we stuck to our lane and launched services that change lives. Thank you, Kenya for the support! Lakeside and Western Kenya get ready! 2021 is here!" read the announcement.
