Kenya - Nakuru to Kisumu rail line closed

[John Ashworth]

Nakuru to Kisumu rail line closed
Written by Ben Sanga

June 17, 2008: Rail transport along the northern corridor has been grounded yet again after Rift Valley Railways announced the closure of the Nakuru/Kisumu line.

Transit cargo heading to Kenya’s biggest trading partner, Uganda, and beyond will be diverted to road transport after Nakuru. According to a press statement signed by RVR managing director Roy Puffet, the branch line closure, effected yesterday, arose from increased vandalism.

“We have noted a rise in vandalism incidents which have been expertly perpetrated by person(s) with a clear technical know how of the railway system,” he said. The items stolen are used by iron mongers.

The closure comes barely a month after the collapse of rail culverts at Jinja, Uganda, whose repair works are still ongoing.

The surge in vandalism also brings into sharp focus the role of the security apparatus charged with the responsibility of protecting and securing the railway network.

Business Daily

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

The mind boogles - indeed!

Very sad......