The routine journey of the Madaraka Express from Mombasa to Nairobi was anything but on Sunday, when the 10:00 PM passenger train was abruptly suspended, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded and questions lingering in its wake. While Kenya Railways promptly issued a public notice citing unspecific "technical issues" as the reason, a strikingly different and far more alarming narrative has since emerged, casting a shadow of doubt over the official explanation.
According to Belgut MP Nelson Koech, a staunch ally of President William Ruto, the suspension was not a matter of mechanical fault but a direct response to a "credible security threat." Speaking candidly during an interview on Citizen TV, Koech revealed that intelligence reports had flagged a chilling plan: a deliberate attack on passengers aboard the night train, specifically designed to incite chaos and, crucially, to "blame the government."
"There was intelligence that there was a team of people who wanted to attack the train and the young people in it and blame it on the government," the legislator asserted, painting a grim picture of premeditated political sabotage. He explicitly linked this alleged plot to the prevailing tensions surrounding the Saba Saba demonstrations, suggesting the attack was intended to fuel the protests and further discredit the current administration.
Kenya Railways, for its part, maintained a tight-lipped official stance. Their brief public notice expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, stating: “We regret to notify members of the public that due to technical issues, the Madaraka Express 10 PM passenger train from Mombasa to Nairobi has been suspended.” No further elaboration was provided on the nature of the alleged technical problem, leaving passengers and the public to speculate. Affected travelers were later advised to report to the Mombasa Terminus by 8:00 AM on Monday for alternative travel arrangements, a small consolation for those whose plans were abruptly derailed.
This mysterious train suspension did not occur in isolation. It coincided with a series of intensified security operations across the country, particularly along critical transport arteries. Along the Mombasa-Diani Road, police mounted extensive roadblocks, specifically targeting youth returning from the Diani Summer Tide Festival. This crackdown led to significant traffic snarl-ups, disrupting travel for countless individuals and fueling public speculation about its connection to broader efforts to manage pre-Saba Saba movements.
Further compounding the travel chaos, long-distance buses bound for Nairobi CBD found themselves stranded at Kabete Police Station, blocked from entering the capital city. These sweeping security measures, while perhaps intended to preempt unrest, undeniably caused widespread inconvenience and anxiety among commuters and businesses alike, creating an atmosphere of lockdown ahead of the politically charged Saba Saba commemorations.
MP Nelson Koech did not mince words regarding the potential for destruction during the demonstrations. He ominously warned of violence, drawing parallels to the disruptive protests that took place on June 25th, which severely impacted the business ecosystem and led to casualties. "The June 25th demonstrations affected businesses. Police officers were assaulted, and many Kenyans were hurt, injured, or lost their lives. What are the Saba Saba protests about? Unfortunately, some people might not reach work today,” he lamented, underscoring the grim realities of such civil unrest.
