Construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2B and 2C, stretching from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba, is set to begin in March.
The move marks a major milestone in Kenya’s modern rail expansion.
The multibillion-shilling project was the focus of a high-level stakeholder meeting in Kisumu, convened by Kenya Railways.
It was attended by the National Lands Commission, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, MPs, MCAs, national government officials and technical experts.
Kenya Railways managing director Philip Mainga confirmed the launch is scheduled for March 20, with President William Ruto expected to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony.
“Preliminary activities are already under way, and all preparations are aligned to that timeline,” he said.
A top priority before construction begins is the identification and compensation of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) along the 264km main line and the 8.6km branch connecting to Kisumu Port. The project requires about 5,000 acres of land.
National Lands Commission director Joel Ombati said due diligence will ensure displaced residents receive fair compensation based on prevailing market rates. He noted that Kisumu county has the highest number of affected persons.
To speed up the process, the commission will deploy a digital platform to map parcels and collect ownership data. The aim is to complete compensation within eight months.
Mainga urged residents to ensure they have valid identification and active bank accounts, citing documentation gaps as a common cause of delays in previous projects.
He added that any grievances would be resolved through consultations with the NLC and local leaders, to avoid lengthy court disputes.
The railway alignment has been fully designed and approved and cannot be altered.
Passenger trains will run at 120 km/h, while freight trains will operate at 80 km/h. Phase 2B will feature seven stations, including six intermediate stops at Mulot, Narok, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu and Ahero and a main terminus in Kisumu West.
Kisumu county will have two passenger stations and two freight stations at Kibos and Kodiaga.
The works will include 79 bridges covering 43km, eight tunnels spanning 14.26km, and 376 culverts stretching about seven kilometres.
The line will be designed to accommodate freight trains of up to 4,000 tonnes. The Kisumu port branch will feature one bridge and eight culverts.
Governor Nyong’o described the railway as more than a transport upgrade. He called it an opportunity to reshape the regional economy.
Drawing lessons from the Mombasa–Nairobi SGR, he said extending the line to Kisumu and onwards to Malaba could lower logistics costs, stimulate industrial growth, expand agricultural value chains and attract investment in warehousing, cold storage, fisheries and manufacturing.
He said a modern rail corridor could position Kisumu — strategically located on the shores of Lake Victoria — as a multimodal hub integrating rail, lake and road transport. This would strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness within the East African trade network.
However, he stressed that infrastructure alone does not guarantee transformation. He urged meaningful local participation, youth employment, inclusion of local enterprises in procurement, environmental safeguards and fair engagement with affected communities.
Support for the project came from local MPs. Muhoroni MP James Onyango K’oyoo pledged political backing and urged continuous engagement with communities.
Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir called for priority employment of local youth during construction and operations.
Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu cautioned that compensation must be handled carefully to avoid conflict and resistance.
Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa said the railway is expected to boost agro-processing, manufacturing and cross-border trade, reinforcing Kisumu’s role as a regional gateway.
Once completed, the Naivasha–Kisumu line will enhance cargo movement from the Port of Mombasa through Nairobi and Naivasha to the lake region. From there, goods can move by lake and road into Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan.
The planned link to Malaba will further cement Kenya’s position as a logistics hub within the East African Community.
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