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Travel checklist: 10 items you should avoid carrying when travelling on SGR train
31st July, 2026 02:32 PM
Passengers boarding the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Madaraka Express are encountering airport-style security checks that rival international flight terminals.
With advanced X-ray scanners, physical luggage checks, and strict enforcement by rail security, travelers frequently find unexpected everyday items permanently confiscated before stepping onto the platform.
According to official Kenya Railways Conditions of Carriage, maintaining safety and order across the railway corridor requires absolute compliance with baggage regulations.
Whether heading down to the coast for a holiday or commuting between regional hubs, passengers are advised to review these 10 items to avoid delays or seizure at the terminal gates.
1. Alcoholic beverages
Passers-through are prohibited from carrying their own alcoholic drinks into stations or aboard coaches.
While beverage services are available for purchase inside the train’s dining facilities, external alcohol detected during security screening will be confiscated on the spot.
2. Single-use plastic bags
Kenya enforces a strict nationwide ban on single-use plastic carrier bags, a rule applied rigorously at railway security checkpoints.
Travelers carrying open plastic shopping bags or unsealed polythene packaging will be required to dispose of them before proceeding to the waiting lounges.
3. Workshop and multi-tools
Seemingly harmless household items and utility gear – including hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, and pocket multi-tools – are classified as potential weapons or maintenance hazards.
Security teams will confiscate any workshop tools discovered in carry-on or checked baggage.
4. Lighters, matches, and vapes
Standard matchboxes, butane pocket lighters, and electronic vaping devices are strictly forbidden inside SGR passenger coaches.
Because open flames and unchecked battery-operated heating elements present fire hazards, these items are flagged and seized during initial scanning.
5. Flammable liquids
Highly volatile substances are banned entirely from station premises and train cars.
Liquids such as petrol, kerosene, lighter fluid, paint, and industrial solvents will trigger immediate security intervention.
6. Aerosol sprays exceeding 500ml
Personal care and household aerosols – such as large cans of body spray, hairspray, or insect repellent – are subject to volume restrictions.
Any aerosol container exceeding the 500ml limit must be left behind.
7. Unprescribed sedatives and controlled substances
While standard over-the-counter medications are permitted, heavy sedatives, tranquilizers, and controlled narcotics require a valid doctor’s prescription.
Narcotics, including marijuana, cocaine, and regional stimulants such as miraa or muguka, are strictly illegal and subject passengers to law enforcement arrest.
8. Wildlife products and animal trophies
In accordance with national conservation laws, carrying wild animal skins, horns, ivory, or cowrie shells is strictly prohibited.
Security officers work in coordination with wildlife authorities, and prohibited animal trophies will be seized immediately.
9. Live animals and pets
Unlike some international rail networks, the Madaraka Express passenger service maintains a total prohibition on live animals.
Pets and domestic animals are completely barred from both passenger coaches and luggage compartments.
10. Large external speakers and bicycles
To ensure comfort and space inside coaches, large external sound systems or boomboxes that could disturb fellow passengers are regulated and prohibited as carry-on items.
Additionally, non-folding bicycles cannot be accommodated aboard the passenger service.
