Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has raised concerns over the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba.

Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Monday, March 23, 2026, Maina questioned the economic viability of the SGR project and warned of a potential debt burden on Kenyan taxpayers.

She further cautioned that large-scale infrastructure projects have historically been vulnerable to corruption and inefficiencies.

“Unfortunately, a lot of these infrastructure projects are used as a conduit for corruption. What concerns me is that the Kenyan taxpayer is going to incur debt in regard to this, and we have heard Museveni talk about the volume of how much we are exporting. Is it actually going to match up in terms of competition when you compare road transport vs the SGR?” Maina questioned.

Kenya’s debt

Maina also warned that the financing of the railway extension could significantly increase Kenya’s debt, with taxpayers ultimately bearing the cost.

She questioned whether the expected economic returns from the project would justify the massive investment required.

The legislator also cast doubt on whether the extended SGR would effectively compete with road transport, which remains the dominant mode of cargo movement in the region.

She questioned whether projected export volumes, as highlighted by Ugandan authorities, would be sufficient to sustain the railway and ensure its profitability.

“This comes as a genuine concern for every Kenyan, and at the end of the day, the Kenyan taxpayer is going to bear the burden of paying for this SGR line. Will it actually cater for the needs, and will it not be so bloated by the time we are done constructing it?” she said.

The Naivasha–Malaba extension is part of a broader regional infrastructure plan aimed at improving trade connectivity between Kenya and Uganda and potentially linking to other East African countries.

However, Maina warned that without careful planning and transparency, the project risks becoming financially unsustainable or underutilised.

Cost of SGR extension

In December 2025, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir revealed that the government had planned to spend up to Ksh400 billion on extending the SGR to the Uganda border.

Speaking during an interview with a local media station, Chirchir disclosed that the ambitious infrastructure project that will link Kenya’s existing SGR network to Uganda’s railway system necessitates significant financial mobilisation.

“It’s a big project, it will cost us anything up to Ksh400 billion, and we need to do that because we are linking up to Uganda; Uganda are already working on that side,” Chirchir stated.

At the time, the CS announced that the government was seeking parliamentary approval to amend sections of the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act to enable the mobilisation of funds for the project.