Kenya Railways issues update on SGR extension to Kisumu-Narok Counties

Kenya Railways is advancing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension to Kisumu and Narok counties as it embarks on land data capture and verification in Bomet and Kericho counties. The exercise aims to clear the path for construction by formally acquiring the necessary land and issuing access notices. In a recent update on social media, Kenya Railways emphasized that construction can only progress once the required land is made available and access notices are in place.

Teams are presently engaged in land data capture and verification in Bomet and Kericho to establish precise records before issuing the necessary Gazette Notices, which will subsequently grant access to the required land. The agency described this ongoing exercise as a critical step towards unlocking additional sections of the railway corridor for construction.

While the two counties remain a focus for land acquisition, construction is currently taking place in Narok and Kisumu counties, where the railway corridor is already accessible. This coordinated approach aims to ensure that land acquisition and construction advance simultaneously, rather than one process impeding the other. Kenya Railways' Managing Director, Philip Mainga, is leading the SGR construction in collaboration with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and the National Land Commission (NLC).

The land verification exercise is a pivotal administrative step before construction can commence in the designated sections. Once land records are verified and the requisite legal notices are issued, those sections can be opened for access and subsequent construction activities.