Kenya Railways says it has suspended on temporary basis passenger train services from Nairobi to four satellite destinations.
In a public notice dispatched Thursday evening, the company said the suspension has been occasioned by the ongoing heavy rains that have caused flooding in Nairobi and its environs.
“We wish to notify members of the public that commuter train services from Nairobi-Ruiru, Nairobi-Embakasi village, Nairobi-Lukenya and Nairobi Syokimau have been temporarily due to the ongoing excessive rains,” the notice from the managing director’s office reads in part.
The company said it was compelled to take the precautionary measure for the sake of passengers’ safety owing to the prevailing adverse weather conditions.
“We will communicate once normal services resume. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the company said.
The suspension is expected to worsen the already dire travel complexities for commuters who train travel was the best alternative in light of flooded roads.
The heavy rains have caused massive flooding and occassioned closure of some roads leaving train services as the best option for commuters whose routes are served by rail transport.
Videos and images shared online Thursday evening showed the section of Mombasa Road between General Motors and Imara Daima estate heavily flooded and traffic on standstill.
A similar scenario was replicated on Thika Road which for the most part of Wedneady remained impassable at the stretch between Kahawa Sukari and Kenyatta University due to heavy flooding.
The government said the floods had killed at least 188 people as of Thursday, May 2.
The Interior Ministry said 90 people are registered as missing while 125 people have been reported injured.