President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, have officially launched the construction of the 107-kilometre Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR Phase 2C) extension at the Kibos Grounds in Kisumu County. The historic cross-border project will seamlessly connect Kenya’s rail network to Uganda and the wider East African hinterland, drastically lowering freight costs and positioning the region as a premier transport and logistics hub.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, the two Heads of State emphasized that the modern rail corridor will serve as a lifeline for regional integration. By linking the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa directly to the Malaba border, the project will guarantee the fast, efficient and cost-effective movement of passengers and bulk cargo across East Africa.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, present during the high-level launch, noted that the rail network would unlock fresh economic frontiers for the larger Nyanza and Western Kenya regions. The new rail corridor will link the Indian Ocean directly to the Malaba border, guaranteeing the fast, efficient, and cost-effective movement of passengers and bulk cargo across the East African Community.
Beyond its commercial footprint, the joint initiative seals the bilateral ties between Kenya and Uganda. The seamless movement of transit goods will ease congestion at the border, allowing security and border control agencies to manage regional trade more efficiently. This project stands out as a triumph for the East African Community’s vision for a single, interconnected market.
