We deserve better no doubt, but being angry over 12-hour train journey won’t increase its speed

The train charges less than half what bus companies charge on the same route, but it takes longer. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

By and large, Kenyans are not a happy lot even as we head into the festive season when people are supposed to make merry.

There are several factors responsible for their foul mood and it is easy to dismiss some of them as insignificant, but generally, the last two Covid years have not been easy on anyone.

Politicians keep lying and do not deliver on their previous promises, the economy is tanking, the cost of living is increasing and the government keeps introducing new taxes.

These are just some of the reasons why Kenyans, and more so those with access to online chatting platforms, are irritable and explode in fits of rage whenever they hear of any move by the government.

It is understandable why they would be so enraged at the government. There is a feeling that the government just issues fiats instead of engaging them over national issues affecting them. And so, last week, Kenya Railways, reintroduced the Nairobi-Kisumu passenger train and tempers, so to speak, went off the rails in Kenya’s cybersphere.

Instead of Kenyans celebrating the end of bus transport cartels that take advantage of vulnerable, and mainly low-income families during the festive season by charging higher fares, they were annoyed.

The train charges less than half what bus companies charge on the same route, but it takes longer, a reported 12 hours, and that is what annoyed Kenyans.

There is no denying the fact that 12 hours is unlawfully a long time for the distance and that Kenyans deserve better, but flying off the handle when there are people who see that as a better option does not help matters.

We have been in this country as the refurbishment of the train, and the railway line was being done and we had the opportunity to take the government to task over what type of engines it wants to put on the tracks. We did not.

Yes, the people using the train deserve faster speeds because time is money, but collective anger at such a critical time will not propel them faster. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.