Kenya is preparing to extend its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network through a major 475-kilometre expansion from Naivasha to Malaba via Kisumu, with construction scheduled to kick off in 2025.

The ambitious extension, valued at 648 billion shillings, aims to enhance Kenya’s connectivity with neighbouring countries, promising a significant boost to regional trade and mobility.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir recently hosted a high-profile delegation from China at Nairobi’s SGR terminus to assess the project’s viability.

Leading the Chinese team, Xi Li, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, engaged in a closed-door consultation with senior government officials to evaluate the groundwork for this critical infrastructure project.

“This project is at full speed as we push towards reaching Kisumu and, eventually, Malaba, creating a direct link to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” remarked Mohamed Daghar, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Transport.

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His comments highlighted the government’s aim to elevate the SGR’s role as a regional transit artery.

This expansive railway plan, emerging from recent agreements forged during President William Ruto's visit to China, underscores Kenya’s strengthening partnership with China.

Alongside the railway, Kenya and China are also jointly developing projects across other sectors, including roads, agriculture, and education.

The extension to Malaba is part of the East African Railway Master Plan, a vision to replace existing meter-gauge rail systems across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Envisioned to eventually stretch further to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the master plan seeks to create a seamless rail corridor across East Africa, boosting trade and connectivity.

Once completed, the SGR extension to Malaba is expected to foster new economic opportunities, creating a high-speed trade route that will bridge East African ports with remote interior regions.

Kenya’s ambitious infrastructure plans reflect the country’s growing role as a transport and trade gateway for the continent, poised to accelerate economic integration across borders.