Kenya negotiates for SGR extension to Naivasha

President Uhuru Kenyatta (in white) his deputy William Ruto at the Tsavo River Super Bridge in Voi, Taita Taveta, during and inspection tour of the progress of the standard gauge railway on 26th May 2015. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT 

By EA Correspondent

Kenya has started negotiations with China Road and Bridge Corporation, the company building the standard gauge railway (SGR), for extension of the line from Nairobi to Naivasha on completion of the railway from Mombasa to the capital city.

The proposed 120-kilometre line will link Nairobi and Mombasa to a special industrial zone that will be established in Naivasha, which is home to the Olkaria geothermal power plants.

This was revealed during an inspection tour of the elevated bridge in Voi by Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta, who was accompanied by his deputy William Ruto and a section of the cabinet.

The Voi River Super Bridge, which cuts through the Tsavo National Park’s elephant corridor, is two kilometres long and has an elevation of 18 feet. It was part of the rail design to construct the bridge to avoid interfering with the movement of elephants.

The construction of bridges and culverts in most parts of the route is now complete and laying of tracks is scheduled to start in October this year.

So far, CRBC has built 40.24 kilometres of railway subgrade, the foundation on which the track will be laid.

It has also emerged that Kenya plans to attract companies to set up industrial complexes at the specially designated zones near Olkaria, by offering them subsidized power tariffs.

Firms will have their power connected directly from Olkaria to ensure uninterrupted supplies, and in some cases, companies — such as those dealing in apparel manufacturing — will be allowed access to steam.

Industrialization and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Aden Mohamed said Kenya will set up industrial parks along the route of the railway.

“Already, we have identified land for setting up industrial parks in Mariakani, Voi, Naivasha, Athi River and Emali. We are in talks with the owners of the lands near the train stations and we expect that acquisition will be completed within the next financial year,” Mr. Mohammed said.