Kenya is expected to sign a Sh380 billion contract for the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in September.
Speaking in Mombasa, Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the deal will be inked during this year’s Forum on China-Africa Corporation (FOCAC) that will be held from September 1-5 in China.
“We shall be travelling to China on the first week of September for the FOCAC summit and we shall sign the Sh380 billion contract for the second phase of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu,” Mr. Macharia said.
Speaking during the Architectural Association of Kenya annual convention at Pride Inn Hotel, the CS said the signing of the deal will put the cost of the complete project at Sh800 billion.
“The Mombasa-Nairobi phase cost Sh327 billion, the extension to Naivasha cost Sh150 billion and the final phase will cost Sh380 billion,” Mr Macharia said.
According to the government’s plan, phase 2B of the project will start at the planned Naivasha Industrial Park where Phase 2A ends.
The new rail line will pass through Narok, Bomet, Kericho counties and terminate in Kisumu where the government will put up a modern inland port. The railway line will have 25 stations — a county station in Kisumu, six intermediate stations and 18 crossing stations.
“The key thing about SGR is that it is the main artery of Kenya’s key development corridor, which starts from Mombasa-Nairobi; what we call the Northern corridor.
“From Nairobi, it goes to the West, and when you get to Naivasha, one branch (central line) goes through Eldoret and the other one goes to Kisumu (southern line),” he said.
The contractor — China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) — said the laying of tracks and rail sleepers is being carried out from Narok towards Nairobi.
The 120km Nairobi-Naivasha line is the first of the three segments that make up the second phase of the SGR project that ends in Malaba town located at the Kenya-Uganda border.
