The government has set aside Ksh25 billion to compensate landowners affected by the construction of the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), as work on the Narok-Bomet-Kisumu section gathers pace.
Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Philip Mainga said the National Land Commission (NLC) is conducting public participation ahead of compensation for people whose land will be affected by the railway project.
Mainga said Kenya Railways had also secured early access to some sections of land as negotiations and valuation with affected landowners continue.
The development comes as the government seeks to advance construction of Phase 2B of the SGR, which will extend the railway from Naivasha through western Kenya towards Kisumu and the border with Uganda.
During a public participation session in Narok on Friday, October 9, affected landowners expressed willingness to engage in the process and work with the government to facilitate smooth compensation negotiations.
Mzee Stephen Ruto, a resident of Kapkesosio village, welcomed the project, saying it would connect Bomet County to other parts of Kenya, the East African region and beyond.
SGR to Boost Agriculture, Tea and Fish Trade
According to Mainga, the railway is being developed as an economic corridor, with logistics hubs and value-addition facilities planned along the route to support local industries.
Narok County is expected to benefit from investments targeting agriculture, livestock and tourism, while Bomet and Kericho will have logistics hubs focusing mainly on the tea industry.
Kisumu is also expected to host a logistics hub for fish, aimed at improving storage and transportation to other markets.
The railway is expected to facilitate the transportation of locally produced commodities, including tea, coffee and sugar, to the Port of Mombasa for export.
The government says the project will also create employment opportunities and support small businesses along the railway corridor under its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
When Will the SGR Reach Narok?
Construction of the railway was launched by President William Ruto on March 19, 2026, with the project expected to take approximately two years to complete.
The railway will cover about 98 kilometres within Narok County, while the wider corridor will pass through Bomet, Nyamira, Kericho, Homa Bay and Kisumu counties.
Mainga said construction was picking up pace, with Narok among the areas where work began early. The Narok station is expected to be partially complete by June 2027.
The project forms part of the government’s plan to extend the SGR network beyond Naivasha and improve the movement of passengers and goods towards western Kenya and neighbouring countries.
Once completed, the railway is expected to strengthen regional trade and provide an alternative transport route for agricultural produce and other goods destined for domestic and export markets.
