Update, Tuesday, July 9: 66 passengers have so far been confirmed to have sustained critical injuries following an accident that involved a train that was ferrying more than 100 passengers from Magadi to Kajiado Town.
According to Kajiado deputy governor Martin Moshisho, the accident occurred after the train lost control and fell off the bridge at Duka Moja, in Loodokilani Ward.
The Deputy Governor disclosed he visited the patients to assess the situation.
One person on Tuesday died while 33 others sustained critical injuries after a train derailed near Tata Chemicals in Kajiado.
The accident occurred after the train which was full of passengers lost control and derailed while attempting to cross over a metal bridge.
According to sources privy to the incident, the derailment caused the train to lose balance and subsequently rolled over, trapping several passengers.
“A passenger train has derailed in Kajiado near Tata Chemicals - Kajiado Plant. Casualties reported. Emergency response teams currently heading to the scene,” St John Ambulance announced.
Casualties of the accident including the deceased and those injured were rushed to Kajiado Sub-County Hospital even as rescue efforts intensified.
Others were ferried to the Kitengela Medical Centre while others were rushed to the St Crispin Medical Centre.
In an analogous situation in September 2022, a train rolled over after derailing along the Kakamega-Kisumu railway line. According to Kenya Railways, the train accident was caused due to poor drainage and ongoing road construction.
The corporation noted that the heavy rainfall witnessed in Lakeside City the day before the accident led to the accumulation of waste at the railway intersection.
"Our locomotive derailed due to heavy siltation at the point the Kakamega-Kisumu road intersects the railway line. This siltation was as a result of the accumulation of waste due to poor drainage," Kenya Railways noted.
No casualties were reported in the accident that caused a traffic snarl along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway as it blocked a section of the ever-busy road.
