TOP officials from Kenya Railways and the National Land Commission ion Monday embarked on a critical reconnaissance visit for the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway project, signalling that the long-anticipated project could soon move from planning to action.
Among those present were NLC CEO Kabale Tache, Kenya Railways managing director Philip Mainga, NLC director of finance and corporate planning Bernard Cherutich, and NLC director of valuation and taxation Joel Ombati.
Speaking to the Star on Tuesday, Tache described the visit as a significant milestone in preparing for land acquisition and project implementation.
“We were looking at the public land where the President can do groundbreaking for the work to begin,” she said, highlighting the focus on publicly-owned parcels for the initial launch.
The officials held a consultative meeting at Kodiaga prison, reviewing land parcels proposed by Kenya Railways for the SGR groundbreaking exercise.
Tache stressed the importance of prioritising public land, identifying potential challenges early, and ensuring meaningful engagement with local leadership and communities.
Following detailed assessments, the team conducted ground verification visits to Kibos and Kodiaga prison, eventually agreeing that Kodiaga prison offered the most viable location for the groundbreaking.
Tache said the project is expected to be ready by June next year.
The SGR project will involve compensation for landowners and traverse numerous properties along its route. Tache reaffirmed NLC’s commitment to ensuring that the project is implemented in a transparent, inclusive, and sustainable manner, benefiting all Kenyans.
Established under Article 67(1) of the constitution of Kenya 2010, the NLC is a constitutional commission operationalised by the National Land Commission Act, 2012, the Land Act, 2012, and the Land Registration Act, 2012.
Section 107 of the Land Act entrusts NLC with the mandate to carry out compulsory acquisitions on behalf of both the national and county governments.
The process is triggered when a Cabinet secretary or county executive committee member submits a formal request to the commission.
Last year, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir outlined plans to utilise the Kenya Railway Development Levy (RDL)—charged on imported goods—to boost funding for the SGR extension.
At the same time, the government is advancing consultations with development partners to explore additional funding options for the 475-kilometre line, encompassing Phase 2B (Naivasha-Kisumu) and Phase 2C (Kisumu-Malaba), with an estimated cost of $5 billion (Sh645.8 billion).
The project, which will pass through Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisumu, and Busia counties, includes compensation for affected individuals.
Feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and social impact analyses have already been completed, with the Kenyan government committing to develop the project concurrently with Uganda, while South Sudan is also being integrated into the East Africa Rail Corridor.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting in Nairobi, attended by his Ugandan and South Sudanese counterparts, Chirchir highlighted Kenya’s urgency to kick-start the project, noting that Uganda is already making headway.
“We do have a clear programme, and we are consulting development partners on some of the financial closures that we need to finish to fund this infrastructure. The project is not cheap,” he said.
The Kenya Railway Development Levy currently raises approximately Sh50 billion annually, based on the revised two per cent levy on imported goods.
For the 2023-24 financial year, the government collected about Sh31.7 billion under the previous 1.5 per cent rate.
The rate was increased to two per cent effective December 27, 2024, significantly boosting expected annual collection.
Chirchir ruled out any plans for further increases, noting that the government is exploring alternative financing models and partnerships.
Among these plans are proposals to concession SGR freight operations and support neighbouring countries in establishing logistics hubs in Kenya, positioning the country as a central hub for regional trade and transport.
As the reconnaissance visit concludes and the groundwork is laid, the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba SGR Project moves a step closer to reality, promising to reshape connectivity and economic activity across Kenya and the wider East African region.
By tuko