Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has welcomed the announcement by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on extending the Standard Guage Railway to Kisumu.
Nyong'o termed it as good news, adding that the project will greatly improve travel between Kisumu and Uganda and support both ordinary travelling and business.
"I would like to thank Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for announcing the long-awaited extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu beginning this year," the governor said.
Nyong'o said SGR in the Lake region will also make the refurbished Kisumu port more vibrant.
He said the needed expansion of transport between the Lake Region and the rest of Kenya has awaited the arrival of the SGR for a long time.
"We hope all will be done to expedite this project," he said.
Once completed, Nyong'o said the SGR will help spur economic growth in Western Kenya and open up the Western Tourism Circuit which is blessed with many beautiful tourist destinations.
He said it was encouraging to hear Murkomen announce that the government was aiming to do 35 per cent of the project by December this year.
Initially, the SGR was to run from Mombasa to Kisumu. However, the project started by former President Uhuru Kenyatta was halted in Nakuru due to inadequate funds.
"As the Kisumu Governor and Chairman of the Lake Region Economic bloc, I wish to thank the national Government for the new commitment to extending the SGR to Kisumu and eventually to Uganda," he said.
