Kenya Railways issued a statement on Monday in response to the circulation of images depicting students seated on the floor of the Madaraka Express.
The railway company attributed the situation to an overwhelming influx of students booking its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) trains during the back-to-school period.
Despite efforts to increase the number of coaches in their fleet, the demand exceeded capacity.
The statement clarified that the surge in demand occurred following the government’s announcement regarding the reopening of primary and secondary schools.
Kenya Railways acknowledged the challenges faced, particularly in accommodating students returning to school after the reopening.
While additional coaches were introduced in both economy and first class sections to accommodate early bookings before the school reopening dates were postponed, the recent surge in demand proved to be overwhelming.
Kenya Railways emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of all passengers, including students, and reassured the public that every effort was being made to prevent any passengers from being left behind.
This assurance was reiterated to underscore the company’s dedication to passenger welfare.
However, reports surfaced indicating that some students with tickets carried forward after the school reopening postponement were displaced from their seats to accommodate passengers with current bookings.
Last month, Kenya Railways announced an extension of Madaraka Express ticket validity for students affected by the delayed school reopening dates. The extension allowed these tickets, originally designated for travel between April 29 and May 3, to remain valid for use from May 6 to May 10, exclusively for students and their guardians.
The postponement of school reopening by two weeks was attributed to heavy rains and subsequent flooding across various parts of the country.
Despite the challenges posed by adverse weather conditions, schools officially reopened on Monday.
However, the government reported that more than 2000 schools remained closed due to the lingering effects of the floods, underscoring the ongoing impact of the inclement weather on education infrastructure.
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