Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) Nelson Koech has lauded the government’s decision to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) beyond Naivasha, describing the project as a vital gateway for regional trade.

Speaking during a morning talk show on a local station on Monday, March 23, 2026, Koech noted that the expansion will connect Mombasa to Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), passing through Narok, Bomet, Sondu, Ahero, Yala, and Mumias.

He noted that the extension to the Ugandan border fundamentally changes Kenya’s strategic value in the global market.

“The SGR connecting all the way from Mombasa to Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan becomes a doorway to East and Central Africa and opens up the market,” Koech stated.

“It is no longer just a Kenyan railway; it is a regional lifeline that invites our neighbours to trade with the world through us.”

Stalled Project

Koech highlighted that the project that had previously stalled in Naivasha was once mocked by critics as a “railway to nowhere”. However, with these new regional connections, Koech asserts it has officially become a ‘railway to somewhere’.

“Remember that this railway project had stalled in Naivasha; that was not where it was meant to be. Many people had said it was a railway to nowhere; now it is a railway to somewhere,” Koech said.

He added that the SGR is designed to move approximately 22 million metric tonnes of cargo annually, and therefore, this capacity, combined with other infrastructure like the Rironi-Mau summit road, will transform Mombasa and Kisumu into massive economic hubs.

“If you combine that with the opening up of the Rironi-Mau summit road, which will lead to almost the same destination, you realise the potential that is being opened up in our region,” Koech stated.

He adds, “It’s very good for the business. It’s very good for the country. It’s very good for transport,” Koech remarked, noting further benefits such as lower carbon emissions and increased potential for local farmers.”

Ruto, Museveni SGR launch

President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, officially launched the Narok-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, at the Kibos SGR site in Kisumu on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The 369-kilometre railway line, which will extend from Naivasha through Narok and Kisumu to Malaba on the Kenya-Uganda border, is valued at Ksh500 billion and is poised to become a key segment of the regional transport corridor.

The project aims to enhance trade, streamline freight movement, and boost passenger travel across East Africa, connecting the western Kenyan region directly to the Port of Mombasa.