KISUMU, Kenya — Kenya and Uganda have taken a major step toward reviving a long-delayed regional railway vision, with Presidents William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni jointly launching a critical section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that is expected to transform trade across East Africa.
The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of the 107-kilometre Kisumu–Malaba segment, a key link in a planned nearly 1,000-kilometre rail corridor stretching from the Port of Mombasa to the Ugandan border.
The project is designed to complete a continuous transport artery connecting Kenya’s coast to inland markets in Uganda and beyond. Once linked to Uganda’s planned Malaba–Kampala railway, the line is expected to form the backbone of trade within the East African Community (EAC).
Officials say the Nairobi–Kampala corridor could cut travel time from around 14 hours to just four, while reducing freight costs by up to 35 percent, changes that could significantly reshape regional logistics and competitiveness.
Speaking at the launch, Ruto framed the project as transformational: “It is in moments such as this… that the destinies of our people, our cities, and our nations are shaped.”
Reviving a stalled dream
The SGR extension has faced years of delays, largely due to financing challenges after China scaled back infrastructure lending under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Construction had stalled more than 350 kilometres short of the Ugandan border, raising concerns about the viability of the regional railway vision.
In response, Kenya has adopted a new financing model that relies partly on revenue from a railway development levy, marking a shift toward more sustainable infrastructure funding.
The broader Kenya segment, from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba, is estimated to cost over $5.5 billion, while Uganda’s connecting line to Kampala is projected at about $3 billion.
Historical roots and decline
Ruto linked the modern SGR to the historic “Uganda Railway,” built more than a century ago to connect the Indian Ocean to the interior of East Africa.
That railway once served as the region’s economic backbone, driving the growth of cities such as Nairobi and Kisumu.
However, decades of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, and a shift toward road transport led to its gradual decline.
The SGR is intended to replace this outdated metre-gauge system with a faster, more efficient network aligned with the broader East African Community (EAC) railway master plan.
Economic impact and regional stakes
The railway is expected to unlock economic potential across western Kenya and the wider Great Lakes region by:
- Reducing transport costs for bulk goods
- Improving access to export markets
- Enhancing efficiency in supply chains
- Supporting industrialisation along the corridor
Nearly 70% of cargo handled at Mombasa is destined for Uganda and other landlocked countries, highlighting the strategic importance of the corridor.
For Uganda, improved rail connectivity is seen as critical to lowering the cost of imports and exports, which currently depend heavily on slow and expensive road transport.
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Museveni has previously argued that delays in extending the railway effectively limit Uganda’s access to the sea, increasing the cost of doing business.
Geopolitical and economic competition
The project also reflects broader regional competition over trade routes in East Africa.
Ruto has warned that Kenya’s position as the primary gateway to the region is not guaranteed, particularly as neighbouring countries invest in alternative corridors.
By completing the SGR link to Uganda, Kenya aims to consolidate its role as the logistics hub for East and Central Africa, connecting markets in Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
If completed on schedule, the Kenya–Uganda SGR link is expected by around 2028, marking a significant milestone in regional infrastructure development.
The project is widely viewed as a test case for a new era of infrastructure financing and regional cooperation, with its success likely to influence future transport investments across Africa.
