Panic as police stage train emergency drill test in Kibera slums

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: There was panic in Kibera slums, Nairobi during a mock train derailment exercise, with hundreds of police being mobilised to the scene.

Officials from the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) had organised the drill to test co-ordination of the different departments in case of emergency, identify emerging gaps in plans and procedures and determine what resource assistance would be required in a disaster.

The operation started at about 5.30 am with a few security officials being informed. Those who did not know of the exercise fell for the prank and rushed to the scene in a panic.

 Some media houses also fell for the same prank, with some  broadcasting the information and others tweeting it.

This was after some officers who were in the know “confirmed” the news to the media outlets in efforts to test their trust, steadfastness and reliability.

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Kilimani OCPD Peter Katam confirmed the information saying: “Yes we have an incident in Kibera and we are evacuating those trapped in the derailment.”  But what stood clear was that Katam was speaking from his office and not the alleged scene. Some of the senior officers in the city also seemed unaware, which raised curiosity.

Positive response

During the exercise, personnel from Rift Valley Railways, the military, NDOC, the police, Kenya Red Cross, St John Ambulance, the Fire Brigade and members of the public responded to the simulated disaster.

“The train accident reported in Kibra was a simulation, part of an emergency drill. No casualties. Thanking everyone involved for co-operation,” NDOC said in one of its tweets an hour later.

St John Ambulance too tweeted: “Mock drill was testing ability of KNH Staff, 30 ambulance crew and police in handling 200 simulated casualties from Kibera train crash.”

Witnesses said the affected area was filled with smoke to create the impression that the train was on fire. An old train was also abandoned there to “confirm” the created impression.

Railways Police Commandant Kirimi Ringera later said the exercise was only a drill to establish the response of emergency services, check evacuation and reaction of the public and media.

“I can see even you media have really tried to be there on time. But it was a mock drill to see our response at large. Let us be on high alert,” said Ringera.

The drill came at a time when terror related incidents are on the rise in the country.  In Nairobi, security personnel are on alert over increased terror threats amid claims that the railway is among the targets.