By GPC Reporter
The proposed Magwagwa SGR station in Nyamira County has advanced following a joint site visit by Kenya Railways and the National Land Commission (NLC).
The teams assessed land acquisition issues and engaged stakeholders to address challenges ahead of the project’s implementation.
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The proposed intermediate station on the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba railway line is expected to improve access to rail services for residents of Nyamira and the wider Gusii region, opening up opportunities for trade, investment and employment.
North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko said the station would benefit communities beyond Nyamira County, urging residents and government agencies to work together to facilitate the project.
“The SGR station at Magwagwa shall not only benefit the people of Nyamira but the larger Gusii region,” Nyamoko said.
The visit brought together officials from Kenya Railways, the NLC and local administration to assess the proposed site, examine land-related matters and engage stakeholders affected by the planned development.
The Kenya Railways delegation was led by engineer Tobias Otieno, while the NLC team included Daniel Muriungi, chairman of the National Land Valuation Committee, and Commissioner Esther Murugi Mathenge.
Nyamoko called for closer collaboration between the NLC and the Nyamira County Land Registrar to speed up succession processes affecting land ownership.
He said resolving outstanding ownership documentation would help eligible Project Affected Persons (PAPs) progress through land acquisition and compensation procedures.
Land documentation and compensation
The MP announced that, from Monday, October 26, the NLC would establish a service desk at the Magwagwa Assistant County Commissioner’s office to help affected residents process documents, including title deeds.
He added that banks would also be invited to set up desks at the compound to help affected people open accounts without travelling to Nyamira town.
The arrangement is intended to bring essential services closer to residents as land acquisition and compensation preparations continue.
Nyamoko said the NLC had assured affected residents that compensation would be undertaken in accordance with the law.
“The NLC assured the affected people that they shall be compensated as by the law,” he said, urging residents to cooperate with officials to expedite implementation of the project.
Muriungi also emphasised the importance of coordination among the agencies involved in land acquisition and preparations for construction.
The process of resolving succession matters and verifying ownership documents is expected to help determine the eligible beneficiaries of compensation, where applicable.
Local administration officials, led by Nyamira North Deputy County Commissioner Joyce Gitau, also participated in the engagement.
Open up wider Gusii region
The proposed Magwagwa station would address a longstanding concern among residents, as the planned railway route passes through Nyamira County without an originally designated station.
Kenya Railways said the proposed addition would bring passenger rail services closer to local communities while improving connectivity along the railway corridor.
Beyond transport, the project is expected to support business activity, facilitate access to wider markets and create economic opportunities for communities in Nyamira and neighbouring parts of the Gusii region.
Tumbo Ayub, commenting on the development, said the project had the potential to stimulate investment and create jobs, while stressing the importance of resolving land succession issues and ensuring lawful compensation.
“Development moves faster when institutions collaborate and communities are fully engaged,” Ayub said.
