Kenya Railways targets September 2026 construction, with the station to serve both passengers and cargo, while Ikonge will operate as a passing station.
The proposed Nyamira County railway station will be located at Mokarate – Magwagwa in North Mugirango, with construction expected to begin in September 2026, Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga has said.
Mainga made the announcement during a consultative meeting hosted by Governor Amos Nyaribo and attended by West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka and North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko.
According to Mainga, the railway will cover approximately 14 kilometres within Nyamira County before exiting into Homa Bay County.
Ikonge will serve as a passing station, while the more substantial station at Mokarate Magwagwa will handle both passenger and cargo operations.
Mainga said Kenya Railways had considered locating the main station at Ikonge but encountered technical challenges involving the area’s topography, railway alignment and other engineering considerations.
The project is expected to require approximately 60 hectares of land for the station and associated infrastructure.
County to provide land
Governor Nyaribo said the Nyamira County Government will provide the land required for the railway station and urged residents to embrace the project.
He said the railway would improve transportation and support the county’s agricultural economy by providing an additional avenue for moving produce and other goods to markets.
Magwagwa’s growing development profile
The railway station will add to a series of major development plans targeting Mokarate Magwagwa.
The area has also been earmarked for a KSh900 million stadium, one of the projects announced during President William Ruto’s visit to Nyamira.
Construction of the stadium, however, has yet to begin.
If both projects are implemented, Magwagwa could emerge as an important transport, sports and commercial centre in North Mugirango.
Nyamoko hails Ruto’s railway decision
Addressing Magwagwa residents after the consultations, North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko thanked President Ruto for including Nyamira in the railway programme.
Nyamoko described the project as a “game changer” for the county and urged residents to support its implementation.
Mogaka seeks cooperation on land
West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka urged residents to cooperate with the land acquisition process, assuring those whose properties will be affected that they will be compensated.
Mogaka, who is also a lawyer, said he would assist residents facing succession-related challenges to obtain the necessary documentation required to facilitate compensation.
He also called for the networking of ring roads connecting the railway station to other parts of the county, particularly West Mugirango, where the county headquarters are located.
The proposed road connections, he said, would help residents, farmers and traders access the railway station and maximise its economic benefits.
September deadline
The railway project is linked to a commitment made by President Ruto during his visit to Nyamira three months ago.
With Kenya Railways now indicating September 2026 as the expected construction start date, attention will shift to land acquisition, technical preparations and other requirements ahead of construction.
If work begins as scheduled and takes the projected two years, completion would be expected around September 2028.
For Nyamira, the project presents the prospect of improved passenger connectivity and new opportunities for transporting agricultural produce and other goods.
The immediate test, however, will be whether the September 2026 construction date translates into actual work on the ground.
