Summary:

• President William Ruto has announced plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC to enhance regional trade and integration. The expansion will improve cross-border connectivity, boost intra-regional trade, and support broader economic goals, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

President William Ruto has revealed plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a strategic move to enhance regional trade and investment.

During the opening of the East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa, President Ruto stressed the importance of this railway expansion for fostering greater regional integration. The SGR extension is expected to improve cross-border transportation, facilitating better connectivity between East African nations.

“We have reached agreements with Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC to extend the SGR from Naivasha to these countries, allowing seamless travel and boosting regional cooperation,” Ruto stated. He emphasized that such infrastructure is crucial for the region’s economic integration.

The extension is expected to significantly increase intra-regional trade, which currently stands at 28%, while supporting the broader goals of economic integration within the East African Community (EAC). Ruto also pointed out that this project could lay the groundwork for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative, further promoting unity across the continent.

Uganda has already begun the groundwork for the SGR project, with the first phase set to cover a 272 km stretch from Malaba to Kampala. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni revealed that the Malaba to Kampala section is expected to be completed in about four years.

Meanwhile, Kenya is fast-tracking the development of the Naivasha to Kisumu SGR line, with plans to begin operations in January 2025.