Kenya Railways Suspends Key Service After Train Full Of Pupils Attacked

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) on Thursday, July 13 announced the suspension of train services along the Syokimau and Lukenya routes.

In a statement, KRC revealed that the move was a result of consistent attacks on its trains while passing through Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums near Imara Daima in Nairobi.

The railway company further accused a section of rowdy individuals of ambushing the passing trains by stoning them as well as barricading rail tracks in a bid to prevent movement, thus putting passengers in danger.

A photo of Syokimau Railway Station building. /CONSTRUCTION KENYA

"We wish to inform our customers and the general public that we have suspended train services along the Syokimau and Lukenya routes.

"This is due to the volatile security situation arising from consistent attacks on our trains passing through Mukuru kwa Njenga, by rowdy individuals who are barricading rail tracks and stoning the train," stated KRC in part.

Kenya Railways went on to highlight two incidents that took place after the Azimio la Umoja nationwide protests on Wednesday, July 12. In one of them, a train bound for Lukenya was attacked at 6.00 pm on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, a train carrying 520 pupils was attacked at 11.00 am, which worried the country's main railway operator.

However, KRC noted that the suspension was merely temporary and that normal services would be restored in due course.

"We wish to reiterate that the safety of our passengers remains paramount to us.

"Normal services will resume as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize to all our esteemed customers for the inconvenience caused," added KRC.

Kenya Railways joins the likes of Moja Expressway company which moved to suspend a section of key services along the Nairobi Expressway following the anti-government protests which saw lives lost and property destroyed, including part of the multi-billion road itself.

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen hours earlier revealed that the tax-paying Kenyan will have to cough up nearly Ksh707 million to cater for damages done on the Nairobi Expressway during the Azimio protests.

Murkomen spoke during the inspection of the Mlolongo toll station to assess the damage that was done during the protests that took place on Wednesday, July 12, prompting the operator to halt operations at the toll station.