The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has unveiled plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Syokimau Station into Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD), in a move set to eliminate the long-standing last-mile challenge faced by thousands of passengers.
According to reports, the state corporation has already begun the process of procuring a contractor to design and construct a 15-kilometre railway link connecting the existing SGR terminus at Syokimau to Nairobi Central Station.
If completed, the project will allow passengers travelling on the SGR to board and alight directly within the city centre instead of ending their journeys at Syokimau, where many currently depend on matatus, taxis or the metre-gauge railway to access the CBD.
For years, the final stretch between Syokimau and the city centre has been viewed as one of the biggest inconveniences facing SGR users, often adding extra travel time and transport costs after long-distance journeys.
The proposed extension is expected to address that challenge by providing a seamless rail connection into Nairobi's commercial heart, making travel more convenient for both daily commuters and passengers travelling to and from other parts of the country.
According to project documents, the new railway line will largely follow the existing metre-gauge railway corridor. The route will pass through Embakasi, Imara Daima, Donholm and Makadara before terminating at Nairobi Central Station in the CBD.
In addition to extending the railway line, Kenya Railways also intends to improve accessibility along the route by constructing new passenger stations at Imara Daima, Makadara and Nairobi CBD.
The planned works will also include the construction of a new bridge across the Mukuru River as well as the reconstruction of the Likoni bridge to accommodate the railway infrastructure.
While KRC has not revealed the project's overall budget, the extension is expected to play a key role in supporting the planned Nairobi Railway City development.
The Ksh28 billion project seeks to transform approximately 13 acres of underutilised railway land in Nairobi into a modern transport hub integrating rail, road and commercial developments.
The railway extension is also expected to help reduce traffic congestion within Nairobi by encouraging more residents to shift from road transport to rail.
At the same time, commuters are expected to save both time and money currently spent travelling between the CBD and the Syokimau terminus, which is located about 20 kilometres from the city centre.
The latest development comes as Kenya Railways presses ahead with the wider expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway network beyond Naivasha.
Construction of the SGR extension from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba officially commenced on July 1 under a project valued at approximately Ksh700 billion.
The railway line will pass through nine counties and is expected to strengthen regional transport while boosting trade and cargo movement between Kenya and neighbouring countries once completed.
The groundbreaking follows President William Ruto's launch of the multi-billion-shilling railway expansion on March 18, paving the way for construction works that are now underway.
The project has been divided into two major phases.
The first section, known as Phase 2B, will cover approximately 264 kilometres from Naivasha to Kisumu. It also includes an 8.69-kilometre branch line connecting the SGR directly to Kisumu Port, a move expected to improve cargo handling and facilitate the movement of goods through the lakeside city.
The second section, Phase 2C, will extend the railway from Kisumu to Malaba over a distance of about 107 kilometres. The line will pass through Siaya, Vihiga, Kakamega and Busia counties before reaching the Kenya-Uganda border, where it is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and support cross-border trade.
