Kisumu County Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has welcomed President William Ruto’s intention to extend the Standard-Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu.

In a statement on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Nyong’o, a perceived critic of the broad-based government, indicated that the project would greatly boost the economy of Western Kenya.

“During his recent four-day visit to China, President William Ruto signed a deal for a new funding model for Phase 2B of the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line that will include the long-awaited extension to Kisumu. This is welcome news,” Nyong’o noted.

“On behalf of the people of Kisumu, I would like to sincerely thank HE President William Samoei Ruto for successfully negotiating with the Chinese Government the financing of the SGR from Nakuru, through Kisumu, and connecting Kenya to Uganda through Malaba.”

Dream for the region

The Kisumu governor stated that the extension of the railway towards the western region was a dream for many and that the development is likely to bring along an increased number of tourists and would improve the capacity of the Kisumu Port.

“This branch of Kenya Railways has been on the drawing board for a long time. Making it a reality at last is something we in the Lake Region need to applaud. Kudos, Mr. President,” Nyong’o remarked.

Adding, “Once completed, the new SGR line will significantly improve the economy of Western Kenya, besides making the refurbished Kisumu Port more robust. It will improve tourism, passenger transport, trade, and regional integration in East Africa. We thank President Ruto for this important project.”

Infrastructure projects

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Ruto inked lucrative deals with China to dualise three major highways and also extend the SGR from Nairobi to the border with Uganda.

“During the extensive engagement between the leaders, China agreed to work with Kenya on implementing strategic connectivity development projects. These include investments in the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to Naivasha (Phase II) and from Naivasha to Malaba (Phase III), as well as the expansion and dualling of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Malaba highway, the Kiambu-Northern Bypass, the Eldoret Bypass, and the construction of Nithi Bridge,” a statement from the State House read in part.

Ruto’s visit equally sealed deals worth Ksh137 billion, which are expected to see the construction of the Nithi Bridge, expansion of the coverage of the fibre optic connectivity in the country, and investments in the education and health infrastructure in the country.