Tense scenes unfolded at the Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Terminus on Sunday night after Kenya Railways abruptly cancelled the Nairobi-bound Madaraka Express passenger train just 30 minutes before its scheduled departure, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and demanding answers.
The cancellation was announced at around 9:30 p.m., ahead of the 10:00 p.m. night service to Nairobi.
The abrupt decision, attributed to a “technical hitch,” was made without prior notice, sparking confusion and frustration among travelers who had already checked in and were waiting to board.
Passengers scrambled to seek alternative means of transport, with many left uncertain about refunds, accommodation, or when they would be able to travel.
“Right now all of us here are stranded,” one affected traveler, Ben, told local reporters.
“We don’t know whether to book a bus.
We’ve seen police roadblocks there.
We don’t know what is happening.
We are very unsure.
What do we do now from here?”
Adding to the frustration, passengers reported that the SGR staff offered no immediate communication on whether tickets would be refunded or if alternate transport would be provided.
Several travelers claimed they were locked out of the terminal entirely after the announcement.
Speculation mounted online that the cancellation may have been politically motivated to restrict travel ahead of the Saba Saba protest planned in Nairobi, though Kenya Railways has not addressed those claims.
By early Monday morning, Kenya Railways issued a statement offering a resolution.
The corporation advised affected passengers to report back to the Mombasa Terminus by 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 7, where alternate transport arrangements had been made.
The notice assured that tickets from the cancelled July 6 train would remain valid.
“We have worked on a mechanism to transport all affected passengers,” Kenya Railways stated. “We regret the inconvenience caused and thank our customers for their patience.”
This unexpected disruption to the busy Mombasa–Nairobi SGR line, one of the country’s most relied-upon transport corridors, is expected to have a knock-on effect on other travel plans throughout the week.
Analysts also note it may exacerbate concerns about declining passenger volumes and growing discontent with public transport reliability.
About The Author
