Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line to Malaba into Uganda through Eldoret and Kisumu.
Speaking during the Kenya Training Institute graduation ceremony in Nairobi, Murkomen explained that the plan for the railway to be built in Kisumu is to improve transportation and reduce the congestion of people who use road transport instead of railway.
“There is no need for the railway to be taken to the bush. We will take it to the city of Nakuru, Eldoret and then to Kisumu and thereafter connect it to Uganda,” Murkomen said.
CS Murkomen directed the Kenya Railways to hire qualified graduands by giving them priority in the current job vacancies.
He promised that there are 5,000 jobs in the country’s railway organisation in various departments and added that the old wagons and coaches will be repaired, and others built.
“Old train carriages will be repaired and new ones will be sought to strengthen the transport sector in the country. In the 5,000 available jobs, give the first priority to those who have qualified and graduated today in this event,” Murkomen added.
He added that the new and modern railway station in Nairobi will contribute greatly to the growth of the national economy.
