Joy in Nyamira after Ruto greenlights Sh300m SGR Station

President William Ruto lays a foundation stone for the construction of the Ikonge modern market in Nyamira County, where he decreed the construction of a station for the SGR in the area./kNA

Nyamira residents are thrilled and have expressed appreciation after President William Ruto decreed the inclusion of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station at Ikonge in Nyamira North at a cost of Sh300 million.

There had been a worrying disquiet by residents of Nyamira County after designs of the extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba excluded Nyamira County, which residents argued was a serious omission since the Ikonge SGR station was meant to serve the entire Gusii region and the neighbouring Migori and Homa Bay Counties.

Daniel Obwoge, a trader at Ikonge town, told KNA that, earlier, he was very disappointed when he learnt that the SGR would only pass by Nyamira without a designated station in the entire county, but he is now very happy after President Ruto decreed it at Ikonge on Monday during his development tour in Gusii land.

"The Gusii region transports so many foodstuffs and cash crops to Nairobi and Mombasa cities. Many a time, we incur losses while selling our coveted, but highly perishable foodstuffs, especially avocados, sugarcane, bananas and local vegetables. Many of these products get spoiled and rot before they reach their intended destinations because they are delayed on the road while being transported,” Obwoge explained.

“Construction of an SGR station in Nyamira will be a total game changer because all our perishable food products will reach their destination in record time, and we will no longer continue incurring losses, a challenge which has taken a toll on our businesses."

Martha Nyaboke, a sugarcane and avocado vendor in Nyamira, said that transporting sugarcane and avocado to Nairobi is costly and time-consuming, making her unable to maximise projected profits.

"An increase in fuel prices automatically compels me to spend more to ensure my products reach Nairobi; unfortunately, my customers refuse to buy these products when I try to equally hike the price. In some instances, the vehicles transporting these products get involved in accidents, get mechanical breakdowns, and greatly inconvenience my business schedules, plunging me into losses," she said.

"Once this SGR station is complete, I will be assured that my products will be transported safely and reach Nairobi in good time. Transportation by the SGR will enable me to increase the number of trips I take to transport my products to Nairobi, and I have already started strategising to increase my customer base to Mombasa city,” Nyaboke said.

The extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu to Malaba will greatly enhance the movement of people and transportation of cargo more conveniently and cut travel time because the passenger train will be moving at a speed of up to 120 km per hour, while freight trains will move at 80 km per hour.

The President’s four-day development tour in Kisii and Nyamira Counties has put the region on the development map since he has initiated several infrastructural development projects geared towards fulfilling the Kenya Kwanza’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).