Sonko Saves 73 Pwani University Students Stranded At SGR Terminus
Reports indicated that the students were at Egerton University and were bound for Kilifi.
Marvin Chege 
Former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko on Sunday, April 2 offered relief and joy to 73 Pwani University students who were stranded at the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus in Nairobi County, days after their university bus' accident that claimed 18 lives.
The 73 students who were among the survivors of the tragic Naivasha road accident had spent Saturday night, April 1 in the cold at the SGR station after the management of Pwani University failed to offer them transportation from Nairobi.
Reports indicated that the students were at Egerton University and were bound for Kilifi. The students, however, arrived at the station ten minutes past 10:00 pm and found that the train had already left.
Mike Sonko, Anthony Manyara and Rachael Tabitha at the SGR terminus with 73 stranded Pwani University students on April 2, 2023. /TWITTER.MIKE SONKO
Photos shared online depicted the situation at the terminus as the students had to brave the night cold on the empty seats at the terminus.
Some of the students had accused the university of the delay, indicating that the institution knew that the students were meant to travel at exactly 10:00 pm, and claimed that the institution had instructed them to foot their own costs for the travel.
One of the students disclosed that they had a detour at Naivasha hospital for their colleagues to pick up their belongings.
"We took time at Naivasha hospital and arrived in Nairobi at around 10.15 pm. The school official who accompanied us said the school has no money at the moment, and that we should contribute Ksh1,000 for transport, which the school will refund," the learner stated.
The student further accused the university of leaving them in the cold, and fundraising for food and transport for their schoolmates who were stranded at the terminus.
"How can the school treat students like that? The county government is nowhere to be seen. It's like they're in public relations. Pwani University has not spoken on the same. Comrades are on their own. I am not happy. At least we have started making contributions to help them," the student added.
In a long Twitter post, Sonko appreciated the last-minute efforts by the institution to offer the students transport after he made emergency calls to rescue the stranded students.
“I posted on my official Twitter account requesting to help the students who were stranded at the SGR terminus and I had to rush there following a delay by the institution to offer them transport to Mombasa. But I’m happy the students are finally on the way to their destinations after the Kenya Railways management accepted a request by Pwani University to transport the students on credit,” said Sonko.
Sonko offered the students pocket money and transport from Mombasa to their final destinations.
“I wish the students a safe journey and also a quick recovery to some of them who were admitted in Naivasha after the Thursday accident. We also mourn the death of the 18 students from Pwani University,” added Sonko while seeing off the students.
Kenya Universities Students Organisation (KUSO) President Antony Manyara who joined Sonko while seeing off the students thanked the former county boss for intervening to rescue the students.
“We thank Mike Sonko for rescuing the comrades who were stranded at Syokimau because of lack of transport,” stated Manyara, who was also joined by his deputy, Rachael Tabitha.
Sonko also offered to pay the medical fees of the Pwani University students who are still admitted to the hospital after the Thursday, March 30 accident.
The institution closed on April 1 following the accident, asking its students to make arrangements to travel home with immediate effect.
"The University will remain closed to students with effect from today, 1st April 2023 from 3.00 pm and re-open on 17th April 2023," read an internal memo by Vice-Chancellor Professor Rajab Mohamed.
