Kenya Railways has resumed operations of the Madaraka Express train from Mombasa to Nairobi, following a sudden suspension of the 10:00 PM Sunday service that left hundreds of passengers stranded and raised public suspicion over the timing.
- •In a statement issued Monday morning, the state corporation cited a “technical hitch” and assured that the issue had been resolved. Passengers holding tickets dated July 6 were advised to report to the Mombasa Terminus by 8:00 AM for rescheduled travel.
- •The abrupt cancellation, announced just hours before departure, triggered widespread online backlash.
- •Many travellers questioned whether the move was purely technical or part of a wider effort to suppress attendance at the Saba Saba demonstrations set for Monday, July 7.
Footage of passengers singing anti-government chants en route to the coast over the weekend intensified the speculation. Compounding the chaos, several travellers were caught in traffic gridlocks along the Mombasa-Diani road as police set up roadblocks near the Dongo-Kundu bypass. The targeted searches affected youth returning from the Diani Summer Tide Festival, some of whom missed their scheduled SGR train.
While Kenya Railways maintained that the safety of passengers was the priority, the lack of detailed communication further fuelled public frustration. Critics argued that the cancellation—coinciding with the politically sensitive Saba Saba anniversary—was poorly handled and possibly deliberate.
On Monday, Nairobi resembled a ghost town. Police sealed off major roads leading into the CBD, blocking access from Ngong Road, Mombasa Road, Thika Road, Waiyaki Way and other key routes. Public transport was limited, businesses remained closed, and pedestrian traffic surged as Kenyans navigated heightened security and uncertainty.
The SGR, though a Chinese-built project, reflects British railway legacy by using the 1,435 mm standard gauge established by British engineer George Stephenson. This historical thread drew attention in light of Sunday’s disruption, raising broader concerns around control of national infrastructure and civic freedoms.
Kenya Railways said it had put in place a mechanism to accommodate all affected passengers and urged continued patience as normal service resumed.
