Kenya and India Collaborate on Ambitious SGR Extension Across 14 Lake Region Counties
Kenya has sought assistance from India in its proposal to expand the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), primarily concentrating on establishing an interconnecting line spanning 14 counties within the Lake Region Block (LRB).
According to a statement released by Siaya Governor James Orengo on Tuesday, governors from the lake region have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian officials regarding the construction of the interlink railway line for development purposes.
Orengo, heading the governors’ delegation, highlighted that President William Ruto had already approved the proposal during his inaugural state visit to India.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will also serve as a topic of discussion during the upcoming meeting between the Head of State and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The planned expansion of the SGR will connect and benefit 14 specific counties: Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homabay, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nandi, Nyamira, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, and Vihiga.
“I led a delegation from Lake Region Economic Block (LREB), including Governors Stephen Sang of Nandi and Hillary Barchok (Bomet), to appraise President William Ruto on the MOUs LREB has signed with Indian government ministries and departments.
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“The MOUs by LREB are one to establish a Solar Energy Park with a capacity of 280MW with each of the 14 counties getting between 10-50MW while the second one seeks to extend the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba corridor but at its core is interlinking railway network that connects the 14 LREB counties,” read the statement in part.
Significantly, the original Meter Gauge Railway line, slated for replacement by the SGR, was constructed by Indian workers during the period from 1891 to 1895.
Presently, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminates in Naivasha, and there are ongoing plans to extend it to Uganda via the Malaba border.
In July 2023, Kipchumba Murkomen, the Transport Cabinet Secretary, finalized an agreement with Edward Wamala, his counterpart in Uganda, outlining the framework for an extension projected to require substantial funding in the billions.
The former administration projected the cost of extending the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu at Ksh380 billion. However, the current administration led by Ruto has not specified the expenses associated with this project yet.
Uganda, on the other hand, signed a deal with a Turkish company to have the railway line in the neighboring country constructed at Ksh327 billion.
Kenya and India Collaborate on Ambitious SGR Extension Across 14 Lake Region Counties