The government has incurred losses totalling to Sh1.2 Billion since the official commissioning of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in June.
The China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on Tuesday revealed that vandals have taken away materials worth Sh1.2 Billion from the Nairobi-Mombasa SGR line in the last five months, putting the lives of passengers at risk.
CRBC stated that steel bars, signal facilities and fence materials worth Sh300 Million were being stolen every month since the launch by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta During the Launch"]
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“Losses caused by vandalism and stealing activities are estimated at over Sh300 Million per month since the train was launched on June 1
“The most targeted items are steel bars, electricals and signals facilities,” stated Sia Li, head of Public Relations at CRBC.
Ms Li called upon communities living along the railway line to report illegal activities instead of stealing from the project.
She added that such acts could see domestic and wild animals begin to cross the railway line, posing a threat to the lives of passengers.
“The stolen equipment along the railway line jeopardise the safety of commuters on the SGR train.
"This is potentially risky because lives of passengers are invaluable,” she was quoted by Business Daily.
The SGR line between Mombasa and Nairobi cost the taxpayer Sh327 Billion and its cost is expected to cross the Sh1 Trillion mark by the time it gets to Malaba.
Since its inception, a number of the suspects have been charged with sabotage, destruction of infrastructure and engaging in organised criminal activities.
[caption caption="File Photo of a Vandalised Section of the SGR"]
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