Kenya Railways has rejected reports alleging that 10 out of 11 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains purchased in 2020 are out of service, with only one remaining operational.
The railway company insists that all 11 DMUs are in full working order and actively in use.
This clarification follows a local daily’s report suggesting that only one DMU was functioning. Kenya Railways stated that the DMUs are running daily as scheduled.
“Kenya Railways values the role of media in keeping the public informed, but the report in question does not accurately reflect the operational status of our trains or our adherence to Railway Standard Operating Procedures,” the company said. “Proper journalistic practice would have involved consulting Kenya Railways through our official communication channels.”
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The DMUs, which are part of the Nairobi Commuter Rail service, were acquired for Sh2 billion under former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration. Kenya Railways emphasized that regular maintenance is performed on the DMUs and other locomotives to ensure passenger safety and comfort.
This maintenance, including routine checks and repairs, is conducted at the Nairobi Railway Central workshop.
The DMUs were initially intended to serve the Nairobi-Syokimau and Embakasi routes. However, due to high passenger numbers in Syokimau, they have been allocated primarily to the Embakasi route.
Additionally, Kenya Railways announced plans to acquire new high-capacity Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs) with a seating capacity of 1,200. This acquisition is part of the second phase of the Kenya Railways Commuter Rail Master Plan, following the first phase which involved the purchase of the current DMUs.
