Kenya Railways adjusts trains schedule over new Covid-19 containment measures

Madaraka Express passengers take a temperature check before boarding the train to Mombasa from Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Kenya Railways has announced changes in both the Madaraka Express Passenger Service and the Nairobi Commuter Rail service operations.

“The Night train on the Madaraka Express Passenger Service which runs every day between Mombasa and Nairobi will operate as scheduled on Friday, March 26, 2021, leaving Mombasa and Nairobi at 10:00 pm,” said Kenya Railways in a statement on Friday.

“Normal services will run on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28, 2021, between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm and on Monday, March 29, 2021, up to noon.”

Thereafter, services will be halted until further notice.

However, the Passenger Service between Nairobi Terminus and Suswa will run over the weekends.

Kenya Railways said it would make adjustments on the Nairobi Commuter Rail Service schedule to enable the service run without stoppages.

The revised schedule for the Nairobi Commuter Rail Service will be released on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday ordered the cessation of all movement into and out of the counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru effective Saturday, March 27, 2021.

Addressing the nation at State House, Uhuru said the tough measures were taken after the numbers escalated tremendously especially in the five counties from January this year.

#covid19Ke Kindly note that the Cessation of Movement is in and out of the 5 counties (Nairobi, Nakuru, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado) as One Zoned Area. You can therefore move freely within the five counties. You will not however be able to leave and enter the One Zoned Area — Nzioka Waita (@NziokaWaita) March 26, 2021

President Uhuru also announced a curfew that commences at 8pm and ends at 4pm in the five zoned counties and 10pm to 4am in the rest of the country effective at midnight (From March 27, 2021.