One person has died and 46 others sustained injuries after a commuter train was involved in an accident at KMQ, Kajiado on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
The Magadi-Kajiado commuter train rolled backwards along a steep stretch, leaving its occupants nursing injuries, with one reported dead on the spot.
The train was headed towards Kajiado town from Magadi.
According to eyewitnesses, they heard a loud bang before passengers burst into screams asking for help.
“It is unfortunate that we have lost one of us to this accident. We are saddened that others have sustained serious and minor injuries. It is a sad day for us,” Joel Munke, an eyewitness, lamented.
They blame the accident on rampant vandalism of the railway line and poor visibility occasioned by heavy rains that pounded the area.
Residents say the railway line has recently been prone to vandalism by rogue scrap metal dealers who play cat-and-mouse games with check unit officers who manage the railway line.
“We have a major challenge. Scrap metal dealers are a threat to users of the train. Sometimes they vandalize the railway line shortly after the check engine has finished inspection, pointing out a well-orchestrated crime being committed by rogue, inhumane scrap metal dealers. Vandalizing the railway line puts lives at stake. We appeal to the security agencies to intensify patrols and apprehend the criminals,” John Muriet, a resident of KMQ, said.
Train
The commuter train, which is the only available public means of transport, charges Ksh70 for a distance of approximately 135 kilometres.
The train is managed by Tata Chemicals Magadi, which operates a cargo train that transports trona from Magadi to its depot in Kajiado town before the same is transported to Mombasa for export.
The commuter train services initiative was initiated to ease the transport challenges of passengers in villages in the remote Kajiado West Sub-county hospital.
Ordinarily, a passenger is required to pay up to Ksh700 to get to Kajiado through the Kiserian-Isinya route, a journey that takes up to four hours.
The injured were treated at the Mile 46 dispensary before being transferred to Kajiado Referral Hospital for specialized treatment.
According to the Kajiado Referral Hospital superintendent Fred Ayani, the number of casualties is 46.
The body of the deceased, who has since been positively identified, is being preserved at the hospital morgue.
10 patients who are in a critical state from multiple fractures have been referred to Kenyatta National Hospital.
