en.Wedoany.com Reported - On July 1, local time, Kenya Railways Corporation announced that the construction of Phase II of the Narok-Malaba Railway, undertaken by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), officially commenced in Narok County. Following the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and Phase I of the Narok-Malaba Railway, this railway line is another landmark infrastructure project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise in Kenya. Upon completion, it will achieve a full standard-gauge railway connection from the Port of Mombasa to the Uganda border, providing significant support for regional connectivity in East Africa and the development of cross-border logistics. It will also further demonstrate the comprehensive strength and contract execution capability of Chinese enterprises in the construction of major infrastructure projects in Africa.
On March 19 this year, Kenyan President William Ruto presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the Narok-Malaba Railway in Narok, with representatives from CCCC in attendance. After more than three months of preparation, the project officially transitioned into the full civil construction phase on July 1. Kenya Railways Corporation posted on social media, stating, "Today, the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway project (i.e., Phase II of the Narok-Malaba Railway) officially broke ground in Narok County, marking a historic milestone for Kenya Railways Corporation and the entire nation."
Phase II of the Narok-Malaba Railway is the westward extension of Kenya's existing Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and Phase I of the Narok-Malaba Railway. The route starts from Naivasha, passes through areas such as Narok and Kisumu, and finally reaches Malaba, a border town between Kenya and Uganda. According to the plan, the extension project will be implemented in two phases:
Phase 2B (Naivasha-Kisumu Section): Approximately 264 kilometers in length, this is the key section commencing construction this time. It will include 6 intermediate stations, 17 level crossings, and an 8.69-kilometer branch line directly connecting to the planned new port in Kisumu. This will further strengthen the railway's connection with port transportation on Lake Victoria, significantly enhancing the efficiency of port cargo collection and distribution.
Phase 2C (Kisumu-Malaba Section): Approximately 107 kilometers in length, the route traverses areas such as Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Busia. Upon completion, it will interconnect with Uganda's planned Malaba-Kampala Standard Gauge Railway, further improving the railway transport network in the East African region.
As the project contractor, CCCC will continue to apply the technical expertise and management systems accumulated during the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, ensuring seamless integration of this extension line with existing lines and the future Ugandan section. Along the route, passenger stations, crossing stations, and a railway branch line connecting to the Port of Kisumu will also be constructed to further enhance regional freight organization and rail-port intermodal transport capacity.
The Kenyan government views this project as a strategic investment to deepen regional economic integration within the East African Community. Upon completion, the project will significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods from the Port of Mombasa to inland Uganda, bringing industrial upgrades and investment opportunities along the route, while creating a large number of local jobs during the construction period. This also represents another important practice by Chinese enterprises in promoting the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with East Africa's connectivity strategy, following the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and Phase I of the Narok-Malaba Railway.
