[Source: Business Daily, by Bonface Otieno]
Construction of the 120km Nairobi-Naivasha standard gauge railway (SGR) is 90 percent complete, 16 months after work on the project started.
Kenya Railways acting managing director Philip Mainga expressed optimism that the rail will be completed ahead of the June deadline, despite a compensation stalemate along Rongai and Ngong sections.
“Phase 2A of the Nairobi-Naivasha SGR line is 90 per cent done and we are still on course to finish the project by May 31,” said Mr Mainga.
He noted that the corporation is working with the National Land Commission (NLC) to settle outstanding payment claim amounting to Sh7.2 billion by landowners affected by the rail.
“NLC is working out to pay Sh7.2 billion in Rongai and Ngong areas measuring about 5km. We are doing everything possible to see these payment done so that we can finish this project on time,” he said.
The Nairobi-Naivasha line, which will cost the taxpayer Sh150 billion, connects to the recently completed stretch from Mombasa port to Nairobi.
The SGR is expected to eventually connect Nairobi to Kampala via Naivasha, Kisumu and Malaba.
[Full article: Business Daily, by Bonface Otieno]
