President William Ruto has sought to calm fears of residents of Nyamira county that the Naivasha-Kisumu Standard Guage railway (SGR) will bypass the region.
The President says contrary to criticisms by his opponents on the implementation of the project, Nyamira will host one of the stations as the SGR heads to Kisumu.
On the second day of Gusii region tour, he said the Kenya Railway will construct a Sh300 million SGR station at Ikonge for goods and passengers.
“I will build a Sh300 million railway station for both goods and passengers here at Ikonge; its now up to you to plan on how to utilise the station,” Ruto told residents of Ikonge, in North Mugirango on Monday morning.
Area residents and leaders had complained that the SGR map launched recently does not include any station in Nyamira county with the Kenya Railway showing stations in Narok, Mulot, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu, Ahero and Kisumu.
“I am the one who has initiated the extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu. You should not listen to those people who have no record on any development projects. The SGR will pass here in Nyamira and benefit the people here,” the President said.
Ruto who had launched construction of a modern market in Ikonge also announced that he will be leaving the country next week to Italy where he will negotiate a Sh1 billion funding for the upgrade of Nyamira county hospital.
The President told resident’s that his administration has settled more that Sh1.56 billion owed by the Social Health Authority (SHA) to the county hospitals even as he promised more goodies to the region that is heavily tilting towards opposition.
He cited the Amabuko-Magombo, Motemomuamu-Manga, Keumbu-Kiendege, Chabera-Nyamaiya and Tombe-Isinta-Mokomoni roads as among key infrastructural projects that he has either initiated or have been advertised for tender.
“The other day, I launched the Eronge-Manga-Chepilat-Saiga Ngiya-Kineni-Nyansiongo-Tinderet road, a 62-km road project in Borabu constituency which is now at 58 per cent done. By the end of this year, we hope to complete the project,” Ruto said.
The President announced that he will launch more projects in the region as he sought support for his 2027 re-election bid with clarion ‘two-term’ request.
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