Residents of Kericho County have staged demonstrations over alleged changes to the planned Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) route, claiming the alterations could deny the region a proposed terminal and the economic opportunities expected from the multibillion-shilling project.
The protests held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, saw residents accuse authorities of changing the railway alignment that had been surveyed in 2022 without adequate public participation or consultation with affected communities.
According to the protesters, the revised route would bypass the proposed Chebilat terminal, a facility they believe would have transformed the local economy by attracting businesses, creating jobs and improving the movement of passengers and goods.
Residents said they had supported the SGR project from the beginning, with some landowners already surrendering portions of their land after compensation processes were initiated.
One protester questioned why changes were being introduced after communities had already accepted the project and prepared for its implementation.
“The SGR was brought here to benefit the residents of Kericho. We welcomed the project, land succession has already been done, and many people are waiting for compensation. Now we are hearing the route has changed, and we will not accept it,” the resident said.
The demonstrators called on the government and Kenya Railways to restore the original route and retain the proposed Chebilat station, warning that they would continue with peaceful protests if their concerns were not addressed.
Residents argued that the terminal would serve as a major transport and economic hub for Kericho and neighbouring counties by reducing transportation costs for agricultural products, including tea, milk and horticultural produce.
They further said the station could attract investments in logistics, warehouses, markets, hotels and housing developments, creating employment opportunities and supporting long-term economic growth in the South Rift region.
The protests come days after residents of Chebinyiny in Cheplanget Ward raised similar concerns over the SGR project, claiming that the proposed Sotik North station had been downgraded from a full passenger station to a passing point.
The Chebinyiny residents argued that losing the passenger station would limit economic benefits for the region and called on the government to restore the original plan.
They announced plans for further peaceful demonstrations until their concerns over the SGR route and stations are addressed.