Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has stated that a single Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) trip to Uganda can carry 4,000 tonnes of cargo, equivalent to the load of 200 trucks on the same route.

He made this announcement during the joint launch of the SGR in Kisumu on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The railway, which is set to link Mombasa, Naivasha, Kisumu, and Uganda, was described by Mudavadi as a landmark project that will connect the two countries and stimulate growth for both nations.

“Kwa wananchi tafakari kwamba hi reli itabeba 4000 tonnes kwa wakati mmoja, yaani ni karibu lory ya tonnes mia mbili kwa wakati mmoja.”

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.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and secure ceremony.

“We have come to Kisumu to assess the readiness for the groundbreaking of the SGR extension from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually to Malaba. This is a significant day; we will celebrate with our president and President Museveni as we launch this transformative project,” CS Chirchir said during a media briefing at the Kibos site.

Fishermen harassment

During the high-profile launch, where Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was also present, Siaya senator Oburu Odinga confronted him over the mistreatment of Kenyan fishermen in Lake Victoria, urging him to step in and quell the animosity between the two nations.

He added that Kenya and Uganda have enjoyed a good relationship in the past since some border communities have similar heritage and used to live as one community in the past but were affected by the demarcation of borders by the colonial powers. He called for that first love to continue prevailing and not die and for fishermen to move freely within the Lake Victoria waters.

President William Ruto, while speaking during the launch, stated that the railway line will spur growth in the two countries and enhance regionalism within the two countries.