Raila: Standard Gauge Railway Was Diverted to President Uhuru’s Land in Naivasha

National Super Alliance (NASA) flag bearer Raila Odinga has sensationally claimed that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) was diverted to President Uhuru’s family private land in Naivasha, contrary to the initial plans by the conceiver of the line.

According to the former Prime Minister, the land in which the dry port and the line through which the SGR will be passing to Naivasha is owned by President Uhuru and his family.

Raila said that the original SGR route was initially scheduled to be constructed from Mombasa to Nairobi and then direct to Kisumu.

“The move to divert the SGR to Naivasha is meant benefit the Uhuru family which owns the land where the industrial park will be located,” he said.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader questioned the rationale to construct a dry port in Naivasha, adding that the lakeside town did not even have an airport.

“When Kibaki and I gave nod to the project, it was meant to start from Mombasa to Kisumu but due to some poor leadership it has been diverted to Naivasha,” he said.

The NASA leader was speaking in Kamere grounds in Naivasha, where he took his campaigns.

Raila rekindled issues on 2007/2008 post-election violence that greatly affected Naivasha, noting that all the victims of skirmishes in parts of the country had been compensated but those from Naivasha had been left out.

“Naivasha has over 5,000 integrated IDPs including Ndiege who lost all his family members but the Jubilee government has refused to compensate them,” he said.