East Africa Rail Corridor to Speed Up as Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan Commit to Joint Project

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 8 – Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan have renewed their firm commitment to fortify regional integration and boost trade by prioritizing the fast-tracking of the East Africa Rail Corridor.

The multi-billion-dollar initiative will specifically see the speedy extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) across the vital Northern Corridor, a massive infrastructure project designed to fundamentally enhance cross-border connectivity and drastically reduce the cost of transport throughout the region.

In a high-level meeting hosted in Nairobi which brought together Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Uganda’s State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama, South Sudan Transport Ministry representative Ms. Arek A. Deng, Kenya’s Principal Secretary State department for Transport, Mohamed Daghar and Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga, they confirmed the three nation’s commitment to ensuring successful construction of the project.

CS Chirchir, while addressing the media noted that Kenya remains committed to completing the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Malaba with construction already advancing on the 262 kilometre, Naivasha-Kisumu section and additional 107 kilometres to Malaba.

The project involves compensation of indivudials affected as it will run through Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisumu and finally Busia.

“We are working closely with Uganda and South Sudan to see that the project comes to live, Upon completion the project will greatly improve mobility for passengers and cargo within the region”, said CS Chirchir.

“We do have a clear programme and we are consulting development partners on some of the financial closures that we need to finish to fund this infrastructure”, He added.

Uganda’s State Minister for Transport Hon. Byamukama on his part said the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway project to Kampala to Malaba is underway as it will join the section Mombasa to Malaba section at the boarder town.

“We spend heavily on road repairs and maintanance due to overloaded trucks with efficient railway from Mombasa through Nairobi- Naivasha to Juba, We will ease road congestion and lower transport costs”, He stated.

Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway line has boosted transportation of Cargo and passengers, In October 2025, 640 million tonnes on its freight service the highest amount transported since it commenced operations.

The three dignitaries affirmed their commitment to speed up technical consultations and commence the work as soon as financing frameworks are finalized.