President William Ruto and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday launched construction of the Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway, a major infrastructure project aimed at improving regional trade and connectivity.
The two heads of state presided over the groundbreaking ceremony at Kibos in Kisumu County, marking the start of Phase 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway network.
The 370-kilometre railway line will extend from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba at the Kenya-Uganda border. The project is estimated to cost between KSh500 billion and KSh650 billion and will be financed partly through Chinese loans.
Leaders, government officials and residents attended the launch, which included a symbolic ceremony to signal the start of construction works.
The railway forms part of a broader plan to link Kenya rail infrastructure with Uganda and eventually Rwanda, creating a continuous transport corridor across East Africa.
Ruto said the railway will position Kenya as a key logistics hub in the region by improving movement of goods from the port of Mombasa to landlocked countries.
He noted that once complete, the line will form part of a nearly 1,000-kilometre railway corridor connecting Mombasa to Malaba.
The project is expected to reduce transport costs, ease congestion on roads and improve efficiency in cargo movement.
Museveni criticised reliance on road transport for heavy cargo, saying it is inefficient and costly compared to rail transport.
The leaders said the railway will support economic activities in western Kenya, including agriculture, fisheries and manufacturing, while opening up the Lake Region and Western Corridor to more investment.
Local leaders welcomed the project, terming it a long-awaited development that will unlock economic potential in the region.
However, some critics questioned the high cost of the railway and the sequencing of its construction.
Concerns have also been raised about the challenging terrain along the route, which will require bridges and tunnels, potentially increasing overall costs.
Despite the concerns, the government maintains that the long-term benefits outweigh the financial and logistical challenges.
The launch highlights growing cooperation between Kenya and Uganda in infrastructure development and regional integration.
Leaders said the railway will play a key role in enhancing trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area by improving connectivity between countries.
Also present at the event was Orange Democratic Movement leader Oburu Odinga, alongside other political and regional leaders.
Ruto said the project is part of a broader national vision to improve infrastructure, lower the cost of doing business and strengthen Kenya position in regional trade.
Once completed, the Kisumu–Malaba railway is expected to transform transport and economic activity across East Africa.
