In a landmark event highlighting Kenya’s focus on modern infrastructure and regional integration, William Ruto praised the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) during the launch of the Narok–Kisumu–Malaba extension on March 21, 2026.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at the Kibos SGR site in Kisumu, attended by Yoweri Museveni, Ruto said the SGR has transported more than 15 million passengers and over 45 million tonnes of freight over the past eight years.

“Over the past 8 years, the SGR has transported more than 15 million passengers and over 45 million tonnes of freight. It has reduced transport cost, improved efficiency and contributed significantly to the growth of our economy,” he stated.

The existing Mombasa–Nairobi–Naivasha line, operational since 2017, has eased road congestion, lowered logistics expenses, and boosted trade.

Freight operations generate over Ksh 1.3 billion monthly, while passenger revenue exceeds Ksh4 billion annually, growing at about 40 per cent. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi noted that a single SGR trip can carry 4,000 tonnes of cargo, equivalent to 200 trucks along the route to Uganda.

He described the railway, which links Mombasa, Naivasha, Kisumu, and Malaba, as a landmark project that will connect the two countries, enhance trade, and stimulate economic growth across the region.

Extension to strengthen Northern Corridor

The new 369-kilometre extension, valued at about Ksh 500 billion, will run from Naivasha through Narok and Kisumu to Malaba at the Kenya–Uganda border. It will connect western Kenya directly to the Port of Mombasa, facilitating seamless cross-border trade with Uganda and beyond.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir described the extension as a “regional game-changer” that will reduce road dependence, improve safety, speed cargo movement, and stimulate economic activity along the corridor.

Ruto addressed skeptics who once called parts of the project a “railway to nowhere.” “It was never a railway to nowhere; it was always our plan that this Kisumu–Malaba SGR was going to be a railway to prosperity and the transformation of Kenya,” he said. He expressed confidence that the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, referred to as “Baba,” would be proud of the progress.

Regional cooperation and economic prospects

The ceremony underscored bilateral ties, with leaders reaffirming their commitment to East African integration. Amid the celebrations, Oburu Odinga raised concerns over the harassment of Kenyan fishermen on Lake Victoria, urging Museveni to promote free movement in shared waters.

Ruto emphasised that development projects continue despite skeptics. “To the naysayers, the people who don’t believe in the transformation of Kenya, we want to persuade them that it may take a little while… We are ready for you when the time comes,” he said.

The extension is expected to open new opportunities in trade, industry, and tourism, reinforcing Kenya’s role as a logistics hub in the East African region.