Nyamira residents are thrilled and expressed appreciation after the President Dr. William Ruto decreed inclusion of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station at Ikonge in Nyamira North at a cost of Sh300 million.
There had been a worrying disquiet by residents of Nyamira County after designs of the extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba excluded Nyamira County, which residents argued was a serious omission since the Ikonge SGR station was meant to serve the entire Gusii region and the neighbouring Migori and Homabay Counties.
Daniel Obwoge, a trader at Ikonge town told KNA that, earlier, he was very disappointed when he learned that the SGR will only pass by Nyamira without a designated station in the entire County, but he is now very happy after President Ruto decreed it at Ikonge on Monday during his development tour in Gusii land.
“Gusii region transports so many foodstuffs and cash crops to Nairobi and Mombasa cities. Many a times, we incur losses while selling our coveted, but highly perishable foodstuffs, especially avocados, sugarcane, bananas and local vegetables. Much of these products get spoilt and rot before they reach their intended destinations because they delay on the road while being transported,” Obwoge explained.
“Construction of an SGR station in Nyamira will be a total game changer because all our perishable food products will reach their destination in record time and we will no longer continue incurring losses, a challenge which has taken a toll on our businesses.
Martha Nyaboke, a sugarcane and avocado vendor in Nyamira, said that transporting sugarcane and avocado to Nairobi is costly and time-consuming, making her unable to maximize projected profits.
“An increase in fuel prices automatically compels me to spend more to ensure my products reach Nairobi; unfortunately, my customers refuse to buy these products when I try to equally hike the price. In some instances the vehicles transporting these products get involved in accidents, get mechanical breakdowns and greatly inconvenience my business schedules, plunging me into losses.
Once this SGR station is complete, I will be assured that my products will be transported safely and reach Nairobi in good time. Transportation by the SGR will enable me to increase the number of trips I transport my products to Nairobi and I have already started strategizing to increase my customer base to Mombasa city,” Nyaboke excitedly said.
The extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu to Malaba will greatly enhance movement of people and transportation of cargo more conveniently and cut travel time because the passenger train will be moving at a speed of up to 120KM per hour, while freight trains will move at 80KM per hour.
The President’s four-day development tour in Kisii and Nyamira Counties has put the region on the development map since he has initiated several infrastructural development projects geared towards fulfilling the Kenya Kwanza’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) agenda.
by Deborah Bochere
