Kenya Railways clarifies reports that commuter trains purchased in 2020 are defunct

This is according to a copy published by one of the daillies, reporting that 11 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) acquired in 2020 as part of a masterplan to ease city commute for Kenyans are unfit to run due to lack of spare parts for repairs.

In a swift rejoinder, KRC said that the report was not factual and clarified that the master plan has been successful and there are no defunct DMUs.

The corporation further noted that all DMUs and other locomotives and coaches undergo regular maintenance to ensure the safety of their customers.

"In line with our standard operating procedures, we are bound to recall and detach locomotives and or coaches including the DEMUs for routine maintenance, which takes place at the Nairobi Railway Central workshops," said KRC.

"The DMUs have been functional and continue addressing the immediate actions identified under the Masterplan for provision of reliable, safe and comfortable modern rail transport services."

They further noted that the DMUs were scheduled to operate along the Nairobi - Syokimau and Embakasi routes but they were rededicated to serve the Embakasi route and a high-capacity train was issued to serve the Syokimau route due to high customer numbers.

KRC says that the new DEMUs set to be purchased will have a sitting capacity of 1200 pax, double the capacity of the existing DMUs. 

DEMUs are an eight-car set comprising of motorized and non-motorized units that can be detached to sub sets of lower capacity.