President William Ruto has unveiled details of a proposed railway connection that could transform transport and trade between Kenya and Tanzania.
Speaking in Mwatate, Taita-Taveta County, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Ruto said the government plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Voi towards the Tanzanian border. The proposed project is expected to create a new transport corridor for passengers and cargo.
The President identified Mwatate, Bura, Mwakitau and Taveta as the areas where new railway stations are planned. The route would move from Voi through the four locations before connecting with Tanzania.
According to Ruto, the government has set aside approximately KSh5 billion for the proposed SGR extension. The investment is expected to support easier movement of goods and people while creating a stronger link between businesses operating on both sides of the Kenya-Tanzania border.
The proposed railway comes as Kenya continues expanding its railway network beyond the existing Mombasa-Nairobi-Naivasha route. The government is also advancing the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR, which is intended to connect Kenya with Uganda and eventually strengthen wider regional transport links.
The Taita-Taveta project should not be confused with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Voi-Mwatate-Taveta Metre Gauge Railway. That separate project was launched in April 2026 at a cost of KSh5.5 billion and is aimed at restoring an older railway connection towards Tanzania.
If implemented, the proposed SGR route would give the four towns a direct role in a new cross-border transport network, potentially opening fresh opportunities for trade, logistics and passenger travel.