Kenya Railways Police has arrested four individuals in connection with the vandalism of sections of the Standard Gauge Railway(SGR) line in Ngong, Kajiado County.
The four are accused of vandalising the railway on the night of April 19th. Instances of vandalism on the railway line have been on the rise with individuals cutting off guard rails used to protect the line.
According to Kenya Railways, Managing Director Philip Mainga, the corporation has been forced to beef up the security of its assets following rampant acts of vandalism.
On May 31, 2017, while launching a passenger train in Miritini terminus, Mombasa County, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared that he has powers to authorise implementation of the death penalty to anyone who shall be caught vandalising any section of the mega project that cost taxpayers Ksh327Billion.
“The presidency gives me powers to authorise executions, and let me warn those who plan to vandalise the railway that I will sign that order and they will be hanged,” President Kenyatta told the gathering at Miritini terminus.
“I normally prefer to pardon the guilty and have them serve life imprisonment sentences but the railway is a different matter. Those who will be sentenced for the destruction of public property, I want them to listen to me, God forgive me! I will approve their hanging.” added the President.
The stern warning from the President came after police officers discovered vandalised guard rails along the tracks at Mariakani in Mombasa.
Section 343 of the Penal Code states that a person who damages the railway works, with an intent to endanger life or with the knowledge that it is likely to endanger life, is liable to imprisonment for life.
The SGR is Kenya's most expensive infrastructure project since independence and was built by financing from China's Government.
The railway line is in its final phase which is expected to reach the lake city of Kisumu.
