The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has revealed plans to set up 12 commercial and logistics hubs along the Mombasa-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) route, which stretches 966 kilometers.
This initiative is part of the ongoing expansion strategy aimed at strengthening Kenya’s railway infrastructure and enhancing trade links with Uganda and other landlocked countries in the region. The new hubs will support both the SGR and the older metre gauge railway (MGR) as part of Phase 2B and 2C of the rail development project.
Trade efficiency
According to KRC, the creation of these hubs will help streamline cargo operations and boost regional trade efficiency. The organization plans to acquire adequate land at selected locations during the development of these phases. KRC also invites private sector participation in establishing the commercial and logistics centers to ensure sustainable and efficient development. Locations earmarked for the hubs include Narok, Bomet, Sotik or Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu, Luanda or Vihiga, and Kakamega or Mumias, along with Busia or Malaba, Voi, Konza, Athi River, and Naivasha.
These hubs are expected to play a crucial role in connecting Kenya’s transport system to neighboring countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 369.3-kilometer Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba section forms a significant part of the overall railway project, providing a vital link to the hinterland. KRC emphasized the urgency of completing Kenya’s segment of the railway to complement Uganda’s ongoing SGR construction and to maintain trade traffic along the Northern Corridor.
The expansion includes the development of a 255-kilometer railway line between Narok and Kisumu and upgrades to Kisumu Port, including an 8-kilometer branch line and two multipurpose berths. Kisumu Port has recently seen a resurgence in activity, handling 90 vessels in 2022 alone, a significant increase from 2018. The final stretch of the project, Phase 3, will extend the railway from Malaba to Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and eventually to Kigali, Rwanda. Feasibility studies and design work are currently underway to support this regional integration effort.