The Government has commenced the land acquisition process for the 49.28 kilometers along the Kericho County section of the Naivasha-Kisumu Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The process involves public engagements and pre-acquisition surveys getting underway to pave the way for the construction of railway stations and related infrastructure.
Speaking during the National Government Development County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-CICMC) meeting in Kericho, Kenya Railways Engineer, Shimron Munga said the route alignment within the county had been completed, while pegging of the railway corridor and station areas was ongoing.
Kericho County Commissioner Omari Ali, who chaired the meeting, said the SGR project had been well received by residents and leaders in the county, describing it as a major development expected to transform transport and economic activities once completed.
Ali said completion of the railway would improve connectivity between Kericho and other parts of the country, ease transportation of people and goods, and create new opportunities for businesses and communities along the corridor.
He urged residents, local leaders, and other stakeholders to continue working with Kenya Railways and the National government during the land acquisition and construction phases, saying cooperation would help ensure timely completion of the project and enable Kericho residents to fully benefit from the railway investment.
Kenya Railways Engineer, Shimron Munga, in his presentation to the committee, said supplementary Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) studies were also at the sensitisation and socio-economic survey stage as Kenya Railways moved to the next phase of land acquisition.
The Phase 2B SGR line enters Kericho County from Bomet at DK 264+900 and runs northwestwards for 23.25 kilometres to the border with Nyamira County at DK 288+150, before re-entering Kericho from Homa Bay County and continuing for another 26.03 kilometres to the Kisumu County border.
Munga said the first major railway facility planned in the county was the Sotik North Intermediate Station, proposed at DK 266+900, about four kilometres north of Sotik Town, with the proposed Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) logistics hub in Cheplanget Ward designated at Tiritab Moita, in Bureti, Kericho County.
Eng. Munga said the Tiiritab Moita Logistics hub and intermediate station are proposed to cover approximately 125 acres of land, with the logistics hub occupying a total of 65 acres, while the intermediate station will cover 60 acres.
The station is expected to provide both passenger and freight services, serving communities around the region and supporting the movement of agricultural produce and other goods along the Naivasha-Kisumu railway corridor.
A passing station is also proposed at Ikonge at DK 276+400, while on the second section of the railway within the county, a reserved passenger station is planned at Awasi at DK 316+350 and another passing station at Kapsorok in Soin, Kericho, at DK 328+700.
Munga said Kenya Railways was working with affected communities and government agencies to identify suitable land for the railway facilities while seeking to minimize disruption to existing institutions and public facilities.
“We are really trying to avoid interfering entirely with learning institutions around that station area, but we may touch on other government land,” said Munga, adding that alternative public land could be considered where necessary.
He said some of the land around the proposed railway stations could be government or county land, making it easier for the government to secure alternative sites and undertake development without unnecessarily interfering with schools and other community facilities.
Munga said public participation remained central to the project, with residents being engaged on land acquisition, the railway corridor, and other issues affecting communities along the route.
“Public participation is very important, and residents have been engaged on various issues, including the naming of one of the proposed stations,” he said.
The engineer said the government was also working with security teams and local leadership to address emerging challenges and ensure that the implementation of the SGR project proceeds without disruption.
He said community representatives had held consultations with Kenya Railways management and the Kericho governor, who later visited the affected areas to engage residents and assess concerns raised over the project.
Munga said compensation would be provided to landowners whose privately owned property is required for the railway, noting that the government had given assurances on the matter.
The NGD-CICMC meeting brought together national government officials and representatives of Kenya Railways, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya National Highways Authority, National Government Administration Officers, the Social Health Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, NACADA, housing, and other agencies.
By Dominic Cheres
