The standard Gauge Railway that has made opposition leader Raila Odinga board plane with President Uhuru Kenyatta in order to secure a huge loan in China has since elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans who are getting sensitive over the matter.
Kenya is shortly expected to sign a Sh368 billion loan for the construction of the Naivasha-Kisumu leg of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), bringing the total debt for the project to Sh845 billion and making the cost effectively Sh800 million per kilometer — one of the most expensive projects of its kind in the world.
While Nyanza is expected to reap big from the project, unhappy Kenyans have criticized the Railway passing through Kisumu.
One social media user has stated that the 600 B being used to build SGR from Mombasa to Kisumu would have been enough to:
– Rehabilitate old railway from Mombasa to Malaba, from Nakuru to Kisumu, and from Nairobi to Nanyuki.
– Extend the old railway line from Nakuru to Lodwar and from Nanyuki to Moyale
Initial plan of Naivasha Eldoret Malava route has also been questioned.
Originally, SGR Phase 2 was to pass through Nairobi-Naivasha-Nakuru-Eldoret-Bungoma to Malaba with a branch line to Kisumu. However, the original route was replaced with the currently approved route, which will pass through Nairobi – Mai Mahiu – suswa – Narok – Bomet – Sondu – Ahero – Kisumu – Yala – Mumias to Malaba.
Kenya Railway pointed out that a feasibility study was conducted under which the Nairobi – Mai Mahiu – suswa – Narok – Bomet – Sondu – Ahero – Kisumu – Yala – Mumias to Malaba route was preferred and approved due to projected low cost of construction, access to geothermal fields that would provide cheaper energy from prospective industries along the SGR Route and potential for increasing economic activities to in the southern part of Kenya through access to transport.
Kenya Railways further mentioned that Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) will fall under Kenya Revenue administration, and there are plans for the government rehabilitate and modernise MGR, which will serve industries in Nakuru and Eldoret.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers was urged to take advantage of Industrial zones at Mai Mahiu and Kisumu in order to benefit from both the land and SGR transport and vast industrial zones that are yet to be utilized.