This archive report was first published on 12 June 2021.
On June 12, 2021, a Nairobi-bound cargo train stalled in Chuka, Nyeri County, sparking concerns about the reliability of Kenya Railways' services.
According to a video shared by Kenyans.co.ke, the train developed mechanical problems, leading to its stalling.
At the time of publishing, Kenya Railways had not issued an official statement on the matter.
However, the incident came just days after a passenger locomotive using the same route caught fire on June 6, 2021, due to an electric fault in the engine.
Kenya Railways had announced that it would resume operations on June 11, 2021, after the fire incident.
"We wish to inform our esteemed customers that the Nanyuki Safari Train shall resume operations on June 11, 2021. Plan your travel and book with us," the authority had announced.
But the stalling of the cargo train on June 12, 2021, raised questions about the safety and reliability of Kenya Railways' services.
Earlier in January, another incident occurred when a Nanyuki-bound locomotive developed mechanical problems and stalled at a remote ravine in Nyeri County.
"We have been stuck at some ravine in Nyeri County for the last 5 and half hours after the train engine failed," a passenger had complained on social media.
The cargo operations from the route started in August 2020, after the rehabilitation of the 240-kilometre line, which cost Ksh 3 billion.
The line had been out of use since the 1990s.
Some of the goods ferried on the route include fuel, fertilisers, hardware, cereals, and other farm produce.
Kenya Railways had promised to improve its services after the fire incident, but the stalling of the cargo train on June 12, 2021, raised concerns about its ability to deliver on its promises.
