The National Land Commission (NLC) has officially set aside 889.06 acres of land for the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Malaba.
This action is part of the government’s continuous efforts to expand the SGR network, linking Kenya’s interior regions to the western border.
The decision, published in the official gazette on Thursday, April 2, 2026, indicates the government’s plans to compulsorily acquire property parcels along the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba route.
According to the notice, affected landowners can review detailed maps and plans of the designated plots at the NLC headquarters on Ardhi House, Nairobi, and county offices in Kisumu and Narok during regular business hours.
The land earmarked for acquisition covers several counties, including Narok, Kisumu, and areas near Naivasha, where the Ksh700 billion ($5.4 billion) project will extend.
Consequently, landowners have been instructed to ensure they receive adequate and prompt compensation for their properties.
Simultaneously, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has requested public input on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the SGR Phase 2C extension from Kisumu to Malaba.
The EIA request aims to collect opinions from residents, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders regarding possible environmental issues resulting from the railway expansion.
Upon completion, the Naivasha-Malaba line is anticipated to enable quicker cargo and passenger transportation between Kenya and neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the government has awarded the Naivasha-Malaba SGR extension to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which successfully won the tender.
Both are prominent state-owned multinational engineering firms headquartered in Beijing, China and are primarily engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative across 150 countries globally.
The two companies are scheduled to construct the remaining sections of the railway, which runs from Naivasha to Kisumu and Malaba, at an estimated cost of Ksh700 billion ($5.4 billion).