MOMBASA, Kenya — Hundreds of passengers were left stranded in Mombasa on Sunday night after Kenya Railways unexpectedly cancelled the 10pm Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train to Nairobi, citing unspecified technical issues.
Many of those affected were young Kenyans who had travelled to the Coast for the Summer Tide Festival held in Diani, Kwale County.
Several had earlier attempted to board the 2pm SGR train but were blocked by police at the Dongo Kundu bypass, with no official explanation offered.
Passengers who had purchased tickets for the 10pm service arrived at the Mombasa Terminus only to be informed that the train had been cancelled.
Kenya Railways did not provide alternative transport or indicate when the next train would be available.
“We were told there was a technical issue, but no one has explained what exactly happened,” said one traveler. “Many of us don’t have a place to sleep.”
Kenyans stranded outside SGR offices in Mombasa after Kenya Railways suspended the Madaraka Express 10PM train from Mombasa to Nairobi
Affected travelers were seen milling around the station late into the night, some making frantic phone calls to family and friends for assistance.
Others expressed frustration over the lack of communication from railway staff and the absence of contingency plans.
Attempts by Y News to get an official comment from Kenya Railways went unanswered.
On its social media platforms, the agency simply cited “technical issues” for the disruption.
The cancellation comes amid heightened security operations in the lead-up to Monday’s Saba Saba protests, raising questions about whether the move was connected to efforts to control movement of protesters returning to Nairobi.
Rights organizations have called on relevant authorities to clarify the events and ensure that transport services are not arbitrarily disrupted, especially for citizens not engaged in any unlawful activity.
By 9.50pm, many passengers remained at the station without transport or information on how or when they would be able to travel.
