The standard gauge railway (SGR) line is set be extended into the Nairobi central business district (CBD), closing a crucial last-mile gap that left thousands of commuters disadvantaged by a 20-kilometre travel to and from the current passenger terminal in Syokimau.
The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is hiring a contractor to develop the 15-kilometre line between the Syokimau SGR passenger terminus and Nairobi Central station, which is currently served only by the aged metre-gauge railway (MGR).
The extension will allow Kenyans travelling on the SGR train to Mombasa – and other destinations in future – to board trains in the CBD instead of travelling to Syokimau as has been the case.
The absence of the last mile between the SGR passenger terminus and the CBD has often forced passengers to transfer to the MGR train, matatus or taxis to reach the city centre for final connection to different destinations.
“The proposed project is strategically important because it closes the last-mile rail gap between the Nairobi SGR passenger terminal at Syokimau and the Nairobi central business district,” KRC said in a disclosure.
“This ensures that there is a direct SGR passenger access to the central railway precinct and supporting the wider Nairobi Railway City programme.”
A blueprint seen by the Business Daily shows that the planned project will involve the construction of the 15km railway line, and new separate passenger platforms at the Imara Daima, Makadara, and Nairobi CBD train stations. Passenger overpasses will also be constructed to connect the new platforms and the old MGR platforms.
Currently, the MGR link between Syokimau and CBD passes through Embakasi, Imara Daima, Donholm, and Makadara. The new SGR line is expected to follow the same route, but will have stations only in Makadara and Imara Daima.
A 4km section of the MGR that is prone to disruptions due to flooding will also be upgraded as part of the project, with the installation of up to 10 culverts and the replacement of the steel MGR sleepers to concrete ones.
This is expected to “improve the reliability and availability of existing commuter rail services by reducing flood-related disruptions, improving drainage performance, and protecting the track formation,” KRC said.
The contractor will also be expected to design and construct a bridge over the Mukuru River, and to reconstruct the Likoni bridge.
The project is meant to fit into the planned Nairobi Railway City, a Sh28 billion project by the State-owned corporation meant to transform 13 acres of underutilised land into a modern transit hub.
Currently, the Nairobi Railway City is being designed, and the tender for construction is set to be awarded soon. It is receiving support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
The government has also begun the extension of the railway from Naivasha to Malaba, connecting several cities and towns in the country to Nairobi.
The SGR Phase 2B project will involve the construction of a 263.7-kilometre line to begin at the terminus of the Nairobi–Naivasha SGR and pass through Narok, Bomet, Sotik, Sondu, and Ahero before terminating in Kisumu.
A plan by KRC shows that the project will include modifications of the Kisumu port, including an 8km branch line. It will also entail the construction of two multi-purpose berths (and associated facilities) and workboat berths to accommodate the safe lying of ships.
It comes amid growing use of railway transport to travel in the country, with both SGR and MGR train options gathering pace among travellers over the last few years, as rising fuel prices increase the cost of road transport.
Last year, the number of passengers ferried on SGR rose by 11 percent to 2.7 million from 2.4 million in 2024, earning KRC an extra Sh700 million in revenues.
The MGR, on the other hand, has seen a gradual drop in usage across the country, with the total number of passengers dropping by almost half over the last four years.
