Kenya Railways has now provided an alternative means of travel to commuters who were left stranded due to the suspension of the 10pm Madaraka Express from Mombasa to Nairobi on Sunday.
In a statement released early Sunday morning, passengers with tickets to the June 6 ride were advised to arrive at the Mombasa Terminus by 8:00 am on Monday to access the unnamed alternative means of transport.
However, the popular SGR train is still out of use due to the technical issues cited in its suspension notice, with Kenya Railways maintaining that they are working to resolve the issue.
"In the meantime, we have worked on a mechanism to transport all affected passengers, including those who missed the earlier train," the notice reads in part.
"The affected passengers are therefore advised to report to the Mombasa Terminus on July 7, 2025, by 8am for travel. Tickets dated July 6, 2025, will be deemed valid for boarding and travel."
On Sunday evening, the authority announced that the 10pm train ride had been suspended due to a technical hitch.
The subsequent reaction was a public uproar as Kenyans across social media interpreted the suspension as a deliberate way to deter Nairobi residents from attending the planned Saba Saba demonstrations.
According to the train service, however, the decision had been made to ensure the safety and well-being of its passengers.
The cancellation of the train came just hours after hundreds of other commuters leaving via the same route were blocked by police officers, missing their 2pm SGR ride.
Reporting the inconvenience, activist and Vocal Africa founder Hussein Khalid revealed that the youth were heading back to the terminus and others to Nairobi when they were blocked at Dongo Kundu Bypass in Likoni over "orders from above".
The youths had been leaving the Summer Tides Festival in Diani when they encountered the officers. Allegedly, this was also a countermeasure to ensure the Nairobi residents did not get back on time for the protests.
"They were to catch the 2pm SGR to Nairobi, but they have been stopped by police who are saying if allowed to proceed, the youth will go to Nairobi and attend Saba Saba protests," Khalid relayed.
