President Uhuru inspects Nairobi-Naivasha SGR tunnel, expresses satisfaction with progress

President Uhuru Kenyatta inspects the construction works of the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (Phase 2A) - Ngong Tunnel at Em bulbul - Ngong, Kajiado County

President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) contractor to ensure construction works for the second next phase are complete within the set timelines.

The Head of State told the company, working in collaboration with the Infrastructure Ministry, to complete economic zones and industrial parks under phase 2A of the project.

“All components of the phase 2A of SGR should be completed by June 2019 so that they can be launched together with the railway line on the same day,” said President Kenyatta when he inspected the SCR tunnel at Em-Bulbul in Kajiado County, yesterday.

Briefing the president on the progress of the project, Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said 25 per cent of the tunnel is complete.

Later, the Head of State chaired an inter-ministerial quarterly meeting at the Em-Bulbul site which was also attended by the Chinese delegation led by China Communication Construction Company Vice President Chen Yun and the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Li Xuhang.

Chen thanked Kenyatta and the Government for supporting the company in undertaking the project.

The Em-Bulbul SGR tunnel in Kajiado County is 4.5 km long and is the first of the three sections of the 7.14 km SGR tunnel.

The other two sections of the tunnel cover 1km and 1.64km stretches respectively.

The railway tunnel is part of phase 2A of the SGR project that takes the railway line from Nairobi to Naivasha and onward to Narok.

Kenyatta thanked the team for their commitment and asked them to ensure that the SGR reaches Naivasha by June 2019.

Addressing Em-Bulbul residents, the President said the SGR project will open up the area and attract investors who will create employment opportunities.