The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Philip Etale has welcomed the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu.
To realize that, President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga are currently in China to collect a Sh368 billion loan for the second phase of the construction.
Speaking on Wednesday, Etale said that the arrival of the railway at Kisunu is very necessary and will rapidly develop the Western part of the country.
He noted that the establishment will be very beneficial to other towns around the region, even in Western Kenya province, and a great benefit for the Lake Victoria economy.
"Ikifika ziwa Victoria, ile SGR itakuwa ya manufaa sana kwa miji iliyozunguka jiji la Kisumu. Itafufua bandari ya Kisumu na kuboresha uchumi wa magharibi ya Kenya," he saidsaid.
(Upon reaching Lake Victoria, the railway will be of great benefit to surrounding towns. It will revive the Kisumu port and promote the Western Kenya economy).
Etale was speaking on Radio Jambo's Mazungumzo Waziwazi show on Wednesday night.
He added that from the port, merchandise from other parts of the country will find their way to neighbouring nations, even bettering the experience and bringing in more money.
"Kutoka pale, bidhaa zitaingizwa katika nchi jirani kupitia ziwa Victoria (from there, our products will be exported to other countries through the lake)," he argued.
However, the SGR which stretches from the port of Mombasa will leave out a number of major towns on its way to Kisumu, these include: Nakuru and Eldoret.