Thugs risk life and limb to ‘harvest’ SGR metals

Vandals have been sawing off and stealing metal from the Nairobi-Narok Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line. 

The economic saboteurs have destroyed the Nairobi-Narok SGR line – ‘harvesting’ bridge steel bars and carting away the loot to sell to scrap metal dealers.

The thieves, seemingly taking advantage of lax security in the area, are also vandalizing fly-over bridges on the Olkeri road that leads to Matasia, Ngong' and Kiserian towns. 

Residents interviewed said theft of rails had been reported, but no arrests had been made, and the vandals were still busy harvesting the remaining rails in the dead of the night. 

Investigations show that the on-going vandalism is the work of street boys, some boda-boda operators, touts and bands of criminals, who then sell the stolen metal rails to scrap metal dealers in Rongai, Kiserian and Ngong' towns. 

The ongoing destruction will soon inconvenience businesses relying on the railway line to transport goods from Nairobi to Narok. 

Motorists who frequent Magadi and Olkeri roads said vandals are taking advantage of the vast forest. 

"Part of SGR pass inside Olkeri forest and thieves are taking advantage, they vandalize at night and hide in the metals in the forest," said one motorist. 

The chief of Olkeri Location Steve Moshie stated that he is not aware of any SGR vandalism occurring in his area.

He emphasised that railway police patrol the area frequently, Nyumba Kumi initiatives, and local herders also play a crucial role in informing the government of any potential vandals.

He, however, accepted that when the railway was initially launched, cases of vandalism were rampant. 

Rongai residents say there was a case last year of a boda boda rider who was arrested in a suspected vandalism case but he was never taken to court. 

A spot check shows scrap metal and welding shops have increased in trading centres near the SGR like Kataka, Nkaimurunya and Merisho. The vandals are also said to take metals all the way to Nairobi CBD where they have ready market. 

Inspectors and surveyors have established that the magnitude of destruction on the SGR was so enormous that in the near future the rails may not support a train. 

Phase 2A of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Nairobi to Narok was officially opened in October 2019 for passenger services by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Sh150 billion SGR line cuts across Nairobi, Kajiado, and Narok.

The line has four passenger stations namely; Ongata Rongai, Ngong, Mai Mahiu and Suswa and one interchange station at Nachu station. 

In 2017, former President Uhuru Kenyatta while commissioning the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) warned that anyone found vandalising key infrastructure installations, including the new railway line should be hanged after trial.

He said at the time: “Those found guilty of vandalising such key projects will be hanged. Those who vandalise key principal projects are economic saboteurs and this is a capital offence whose punishment is death.”