Construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension from Naivasha towards Kisumu and Malaba is gathering pace, with land acquisition activities now underway in Bomet and Kericho counties.
Kenya Railways, in a statement on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, said teams working with the National Land Commission (NLC) are conducting land data capture and verification exercises in sections of the railway corridor where construction is yet to commence.
The exercise is aimed at ensuring that land records are accurate before Gazette Notices are issued and the required parcels are formally made available for construction.
According to Kenya Railways, construction is already progressing in accessible sections of Narok and Kisumu counties, while preparations continue in other areas along the corridor.
“As construction progresses in accessible sections of Narok and Kisumu Counties, Kenya Railways and the NLC are also advancing the land acquisition process in other sections of the railway corridor.”
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The corporation said the ongoing exercise in Bomet and Kericho is therefore a critical step towards unlocking additional sections of the railway corridor.
“Construction can only proceed once the required land has been formally made available & necessary Notices of Access issued. The ongoing exercise in Bomet & Kericho Counties is therefore a critical step towards unlocking additional sections of the railway corridor for construction” Kenya Railways said.
The project is being implemented under the leadership of Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga, EBS, in collaboration with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the project contractor, and the NLC.
Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR extension
The Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR extension is expected to traverse several counties in western Kenya, opening up new transport links and supporting movement of passengers and cargo. Recent government activities have included land acquisition and public engagements with affected communities along the proposed route.
In Kericho, the government has commenced acquisition of land along a 49.28-kilometre section of the proposed railway, paving the way for construction of railway stations and other supporting infrastructure.
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Kenya Railways has also confirmed plans for an SGR station in Tiriitab-Moita in Bureti Sub-County, with Mainga recently engaging residents and local leaders on the progress and expected impact of the project.
The latest land verification exercise is expected to pave the way for construction teams to access additional sections once the legal requirements for acquisition and access have been completed.
The development marks another step in efforts to extend Kenya’s modern railway network beyond Naivasha towards the Lake Victoria region and eventually the Uganda border.
