Residents of the Gusii region have been assured that the ongoing extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will include a station at Ikonge in Nyamira County, easing fears that the area could be sidelined in the multi-billion-shilling infrastructure project.
State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke said the government remains committed to ensuring the region benefits from the railway expansion, which is set to run from Naivasha to Malaba through Kisumu.
The project was recently reaffirmed by President William Ruto as part of Kenya’s broader infrastructure development agenda.
Speaking during an Alumni Day event at Sameta High School in Kisii County, Isaboke dismissed concerns over the omission of Ikonge station in earlier route plans, terming them unfounded.
“The project is going on as planned,” he said, adding that the inclusion of Ikonge will enhance economic activity in the region.
The PS noted that once complete, the SGR extension will significantly support agriculture—the backbone of the Gusii economy—by improving the transportation of farm produce to markets. He added that the railway will also boost passenger travel, particularly for business purposes.
Concerns had emerged among residents after a previously proposed station in Ikonge, located in North Mugirango Constituency, was missing from the latest government route design, raising fears of exclusion.
The Standard Gauge Railway remains one of Kenya’s flagship infrastructure projects, aimed at modernising rail transport and improving regional connectivity. The first phase, linking Mombasa to Nairobi, was launched in 2017, drastically reducing travel time and lowering the cost of moving goods between the port city and the capital. The line was later extended to Naivasha to facilitate inland cargo handling.
The ongoing extension to Kisumu and Malaba is part of a larger regional plan to connect Kenya with neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan, positioning the country as a logistics hub in East Africa.
Key stations along the Naivasha–Kisumu route will include a passenger terminus in Kisumu and major freight hubs in both Kisumu and Malaba. Several crossing stations are also planned in areas such as Ngorengore, Mulot North, Bomet West, Sotik North, Asawo, Kapsarok, Ahero South and East Kolwa.
In addition, Isaboke revealed that the government is working to expand fibre optic infrastructure to over 100,000 kilometres nationwide, further enhancing digital connectivity.
Amid ongoing heavy rains, he urged residents to remain cautious and avoid crossing flooded areas or settling in landslide-prone zones. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall across the country through March 24.
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