The government has set aside Sh25 billion to compensate landowners affected by the construction of the Narok-Bomet-Kisumu section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2B project, as work on the railway corridor gathers pace.
Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Philip Mainga said the National Land Commission (NLC) is conducting public participation ahead of compensation for affected landowners.
Mainga said Kenya Railways had also secured early access to some sections of land as negotiations and valuation with affected property owners continue.
The affected landowners have expressed willingness to participate in the public consultation process and work with the government to ensure smooth compensation negotiations.
Landowners Welcome SGR Project
Speaking during a public participation session, Stephen Ruto, a resident of Kapkesosio village, said the community welcomed the railway project, noting that it would connect Bomet County to the rest of Kenya, the East African region and beyond.
Construction of SGR Phase 2B is picking up pace, with work having started early in some areas, including Narok County.
The railway will cover approximately 98 kilometres in Narok County, while the wider corridor will pass through Narok, Bomet, Nyamira, Kericho, Homa Bay and Kisumu counties.
The project is expected to improve transport links and support the movement of goods across the region.
SGR Economic Belt to Support Agriculture and Trade
Mainga said the railway is being developed as an SGR Economic Belt, with logistics hubs and value-addition facilities planned along the corridor to support local production and trade.
In Narok County, the focus will be on agriculture, livestock and tourism.
Bomet and Kericho are expected to host logistics hubs primarily supporting the tea sector, while Kisumu is planned to have a hub for fish handling, storage and distribution to other markets.
The railway is also expected to improve the transportation of locally produced goods, including tea, coffee and sugar, to the Port of Mombasa for export.
These facilities are intended to link production areas with markets and transport infrastructure, potentially creating opportunities for farmers, traders and businesses along the route.
Government Expects Jobs and Business Opportunities
The project forms part of the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and is expected to create employment opportunities and support small businesses during construction and after the railway becomes operational.
The planned logistics hubs and value-addition facilities are also expected to support economic activity in the counties along the corridor.
However, compensation negotiations and the release of land remain important steps as construction progresses through affected communities.
The government has said the NLC is overseeing public participation as valuation and negotiations with landowners continue.
SGR Phase 2B Construction Timeline
President William Ruto launched construction of the railway project on March 19, 2026.
The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete. The Narok railway station is projected to be partially complete by June 2027, according to the information provided.
The Sh25 billion compensation allocation is intended to address land acquisition for the railway corridor as the government advances construction of the wider Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba SGR project.
