Voi–Taveta Railway to Be Operational by April 2027 as Kenya, Tanzania Deepen Regional Integration Drive
William Ruto has announced that the long-delayed Voi–Mwatate–Taveta railway line will be fully operational by April 2027, setting a firm timeline for a project that has remained dormant for more than two decades.
Speaking during a two-day state visit to Tanzania on Monday, May 4, 2026, the President confirmed that construction of the 127-kilometre metre-gauge railway commenced last month, marking a significant step forward after years of stalled implementation.
“By April next year, we will have connected Voi–Mwatate–Taveta, and I have the confirmation of my sister that you will complete the line to Taveta from the Tanzanian side ahead of time,” President Ruto said, in reference to Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The railway, stretching from Voi to Taveta at the Kenya–Tanzania border, was officially recommissioned on April 10, 2026, during a ceremony at the Voi Transshipment Hub. The corridor, which dates back more than a century, is now being revived as part of Kenya’s broader infrastructure modernisation agenda.
At the heart of the project is the Voi junction, which will link the metre-gauge line to Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway network, creating what Kenya Railways describes as a seamless logistics corridor between inland regions and the coast.
President Ruto also revealed plans to extend the railway beyond Taveta into central Tanzania, proposing a link to Singida. The proposed expansion would form part of a larger regional transport corridor connecting Kenya’s SGR to Burundi and potentially other East African markets.
“I have requested that the road should also be connected to Singida so that we can find a transport corridor joining your SGR all the way to Burundi. That will unlock the full potential of the East African Community, connecting Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and beyond,” he added.
The railway announcement came amid a broader push to strengthen bilateral ties between Kenya and Tanzania. During the visit, the two nations finalised more than 20 commercial agreements valued at approximately USD 500 million (Ksh64.6 billion), covering key sectors including tourism, agriculture and manufacturing.
Energy cooperation also featured prominently, with President Ruto and President Suluhu agreeing to accelerate joint initiatives aimed at reducing electricity costs for industrial and commercial users—an effort expected to improve competitiveness and lower the cost of doing business across the region.
In addition, both leaders committed to enhancing digital infrastructure through improved ICT connectivity, while new agreements on agriculture and livestock trade are set to ease cross-border movement of goods, directly benefiting millions of smallholder farmers.
The developments form part of a wider strategy to deepen regional integration within the East African Community, with a focus on eliminating non-tariff barriers and enabling the free flow of goods and services across member states.
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