President William Ruto has shared new details on the performance of the Standard Gauge Railway, pointing to steady growth in both freight and passenger services.

The railway continues to play a key role in Kenya’s transport and trade sector. Freight services alone are bringing in over Ksh1.3 billion every month. This shows strong demand from businesses moving goods across the country. The cargo segment remains the backbone of the railway’s income.

Passenger services have also improved. Revenue from passengers has grown significantly, reaching more than Ksh4 billion annually. This rise reflects increased public confidence in the train service, as more people choose it for travel between major towns....To Read the WHOLE STORY CLICK HERE 

The revenue revelation formed part of a broader address on the strategic importance of completing the SGR network. President Ruto emphasised that the current line terminating at Narok is “by definition, incomplete” because it fails to reach Western Kenya’s agricultural heartland or integrate with lake transport in Kisumu.

The 262.3 km Narok-Kisumu section (Phase 2B), launched today, will connect Nairobi’s industrial corridor to key counties including Narok, Bomet, Kericho, and Nyamira, while positioning Kisumu as a major logistics hub.

 A separate groundbreaking for the 107 km Kisumu-Malaba section (Phase 2C) is scheduled for Saturday. 

Once complete, the nearly 1,000 km line from Mombasa to Malaba will slash transit times dramatically from up to 80 hours by road to Malaba and over 100 hours to Kampala and ease congestion by shifting hundreds of trucks off highways per freight train.
Proposed construction of Naivasha – Kisumu SGR (Phase 2B)

President Ruto noted surging demand: transit cargo through the Port of Mombasa hit 7.37 million tonnes in the first six months of 2025, with nearly 70% bound for Uganda.

 The full extension, he said, will cement Kenya’s status as the logistical backbone of East and Central Africa, serving Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo while unlocking Western Kenya’s economic potential in tea, maize, sugar, rice, and fisheries.

A transformative project delivering results
The SGR famously known as the Madaraka Express has already carried millions of passengers and tens of millions of tonnes of cargo since its launch.

 Today’s event, which included a meeting with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Chairman Song Hailiang, signals renewed momentum after years of stalled extension plans.

By shifting bulk cargo to rail, the government aims to cut business costs, save time, improve safety, and reduce road maintenance burdens. President Ruto described the project as “a strategic economic intervention” that will finally realise the full vision of a modern, efficient railway network.

The strong revenue performance particularly the passenger surge despite past fare adjustments provides fresh vindication for continued investment in the SGR as Kenya positions itself as East Africa’s premier transport and trade hub.