Kenya plans to deepen East African integration with extension of rail project
Kenyan President William Ruto has unveiled plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi, to Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The announcement was made during the official opening of the 14th East African Community Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa, southeastern Kenya, on December 7, as part of efforts to deepen economic ties and enhance regional integration.
“I want to give you more good news. We have agreed with Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC that the SGR will be extended from Naivasha to Uganda and Rwanda to DRC so that in a few years, they too can use the SGR when they want to come to Mombasa,” President Ruto said.
The SGR extension is expected to revolutionise trade within the East African region, creating a seamless movement of goods and people. The project will also open up access to previously hard-to-reach tourist destinations, fostering economic growth and cross-border connectivity.
Uganda is already laying the groundwork, with construction of the SGR from Malaba, eastern Uganda, to Kampala set to commence in January 2025. The 272-kilometre railway line will take approximately 48 months to complete.
During the launch of the project last month, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni emphasised its transformative potential. “Works on the Naivasha-Malaba section by our Kenyan counterparts will start very soon. The two countries have agreed on the timelines of the two projects to ensure the seamless movement of trains from Kampala to Mombasa,” Museveni said.
He further highlighted the efficiency gains, stating that the SGR would reduce transportation times for goods from 14 days to just 24 hours, marking a significant milestone for regional trade logistics.
