President William Ruto presided over the launch of the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2B on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
The project is expected to transform transport and trade across the western corridor.
Reports indicate that the new railway line will be developed in two key phases, with the Naivasha-Kisumu section covering 264 kilometres and the Kisumu-Malaba stretch extending 107 kilometres, bringing the total length to over 370 kilometres.
The SGR Phase 2B will pass through nine counties and is expected to be completed by June 2027 in order to boost connectivity between the Great Rift Valley, Nyanza, and Western Kenya regions.
Further reports indicate that the Naivasha-Kisumu section will begin at Emurtoto in Narok County and terminate in Kisumu, with an additional 8.69-kilometre branch line linking the railway to the proposed new Kisumu Port to support lake transport and logistics.
This section will feature six intermediate stations located in Narok, Mulot, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu, and Ahero, while also incorporating 17 crossing stations across Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kericho, and Kisumu counties.
The railway will include two key intermediate stations at Yala and Mumias, alongside six crossing stations located at Kisian West, Ramala, Yala, Musanda, Manyulia, and Amukura, traversing Kisumu, Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Busia counties.
Passenger trains is expected to have a capacity of 1,096 passengers while freight trains to carry up to 4,000 tonnes at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
