Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech has alleged that the temporary suspension of the 10:00 PM Madaraka Express passenger train from Mombasa to Nairobi on Sunday night was triggered by intelligence reports of a planned attack on passengers.
Speaking on Citizen TV, MP Koech claimed there was a plot to target youths on the night train and frame the government for the incident. “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,” he stated.
Kenya Railways issued a public notice on Sunday announcing the suspension, citing unspecified “technical issues” as the reason. “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,” the statement read. The rail agency emphasized that passenger safety remains its highest priority and that the suspension was taken as a precautionary measure.
Affected passengers were advised to report to the Mombasa terminus by 8:00 AM on Monday for alternative travel arrangements.
The suspension coincided with heightened security activity along the Mombasa-Diani Road, where police set up roadblocks that caused major traffic disruptions. The security operation targeted vehicles ferrying youths returning from the Diani Summer Tide Festival. Authorities reportedly suspected that some of these youths were en route to Nairobi to participate in the Saba Saba commemorations on Monday.
Videos circulated online showed youths chanting “Wantam” as they were stopped by police, further fueling speculation about their intended destination and purpose.
By Monday morning, roadblocks were still in place in parts of Nairobi and its outskirts, leading to massive congestion and forcing many city residents to walk long distances to work.
While the official cause for the Madaraka Express disruption remains listed as technical, MP Koech’s assertions have added a political and security dimension to the matter, raising concerns about public safety and freedom of movement amid increasing civil activism across the country.
