Govt issues update on land compensation for Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR
By Aloys Michael, March 22, 2026The government has assured all the landowners affected by the new Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that they will receive fair compensation and benefit from the project’s development.
Speaking on Saturday, March 21, 2026, during an engagement with locals in Mulot, Narok West, the National Land Commission (NLC) CEO Kabale Tache Arero confirmed that both the commission and Kenya Railways are making progress on the compensation framework, with thousands of landowners set to be compensated.
“We are compensating over 1,000 affected by this project. Towards Kisumu, we are compensating over 3,500. Look at it in terms of economic empowerment. This means that we are bringing development to them and also empowering them economically,” Arero said.
The government has formally initiated the land acquisition process for the SGR extension, marking a significant step in rolling out Phases 2B and 2C of the project.
Over the past two months, Kenya Railways and the NLC have convened public forums to engage communities ahead of compensation and resettlement procedures.
These forums have brought together members of the public, key stakeholders, and Project Affected Persons (PAPs) to discuss the construction of the Naivasha-Kisumu SGR Phases 2B and 2C.
NLC has indicated that land earmarked for the project will first be identified, surveyed, and assessed before any compensation is issued, with payments determined in line with existing land regulations and prevailing market values.
The proposed railway will be implemented in two main segments: the 264-kilometre Naivasha–Kisumu stretch and the 107-kilometre Kisumu–Malaba section, bringing the overall distance to more than 370 kilometres.
Upon completion, SGR Phase 2B is set to traverse nine counties and is projected to be finalised by June 2027, significantly enhancing transport links across the Great Rift Valley, Nyanza, and Western Kenya.
The Naivasha-Kisumu segment will originate at Emurtoto in Narok County and end in Kisumu. It will also include an 8.69-kilometre spur connecting the main line to the planned new Kisumu Port, aimed at strengthening lake-based transport and regional logistics.
This section will comprise six intermediate stations situated in Narok, Mulot, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu, and Ahero, along with 17 crossing stations distributed across Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kericho, and Kisumu counties.
Along the Kisumu–Malaba segment, the railway will feature two major intermediate stations at Yala and Mumias, in addition to six crossing stations located at Kisian West, Ramala, Yala, Musanda, Manyulia, and Amukura, spanning Kisumu, Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Busia counties.
The project will further entail significant engineering works, including the development of 13 tunnels, 23 bridges, and 376 culverts to accommodate the varied landscape.
Passenger trains are expected to carry up to 1,096 passengers at speeds of 120 km/h, while freight trains will handle loads of up to 4,000 tonnes at speeds of 80 km/h.