Phase two of SGR line to Kisumu begins in July
Workers and a security officer at the construction site for the standard gauge railway at Taru trading centre in Mombasa on December 7, 2014. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA |
What you need to know:
- Initially planned for Malaba, the termination point is now to be at Kisumu on Lake Victori
Extension of the standard gauge railway line from Nairobi to the Uganda border is to begin in July as the government moves to accelerate regional connectivity.
Initially planned for Malaba, the termination point is now to be at Kisumu on Lake Victoria with the new route gaining preference as it offers “the port with the shortest access to East Africa Community.
“…the construction of Phase II of the standard gauge railway line from Nairobi to the shore of Lake Victoria will commence in financial year 2015/16 under design and build framework,”
The 2015/16 draft budget policy statement was published by the National Treasury on Friday for a public debate before being tabled before Cabinet approval. Once approved it will guide government expenditure and policy for next 12 months from July.
TRANSPORT COST
“Construction of standard gauge railway has been prioritised over the medium term to reduce transport cost by about 70 per cent, facilitate faster and cheaper movement of freight and passengers and enhance competitiveness of our economy,” reads the draft budget policy statement.
The ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is currently doing the feasibility study on the Nairobi-Kisumu extension. The standard gauge railway is part of the Northern Corridor projects undertaken under the “coalition of the willing” bringing together Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
Uganda and Rwanda are in the process of beginning construction of lines crossing their borders with South Sudan expected to join in later. The project is one being championed by heads of states from the four countries in their bimonthly meetings on Northern Corridor integration. The other projects include the East Africa single visa, power inter-connections, and a single network.
The third phase will also begin this year with the upgrade of the present railway line. The sections to be upgraded include Nairobi-Malaba, Nakuru-Kisumu, Nairobi-Nanyuki and Voi-Taveta, among others. The upgrade will take three years to complete.
