The Kenyan and Ugandan governments have pledged to commence construction on the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba and Malaba-Kampala Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line by December, as announced in a joint communique following a recent regional Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers meeting. The two nations have finalized the harmonization of technical specifications and standards for this endeavor.
According to the communique, the Cabinet Secretaries/Ministers reiterated their dedication to expediting the completion of the remaining SGR sections from Naivasha in Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Additionally, they have outlined plans to devise an implementation roadmap for this purpose.
In addition to construction commitments, the ministers have pledged to establish a framework facilitating cross-border maintenance of SGR assets and facilities. They have also vowed to coordinate the planning and development of inland water transport infrastructure, aiming to enhance seamless multimodal transport services within the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP).
Furthermore, the communique underscores the commitment of the Cabinet Secretaries/Ministers to accelerate the development and harmonization of the policy, legal, and institutional framework for the SGR. They aim to pursue joint mobilization of resources in this regard.
The meeting, which saw the participation of notable figures such as Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Roads and Transport, and Fred Byamukama, Minister of State for Works and Transport (Transport) of Uganda, marked a significant step forward in the realization of the SGR project. Originally conceived as one of the Jubilee government’s flagship initiatives, the SGR holds promise for fostering economic growth and regional connectivity.
