Madaraka Express to be grounded on August 8th

If you are planning to travel to Mombasa or Nairobi on the eve of general elections using the standard gauge railway, you better drop that idea and look for another means.

Madaraka Express will be grounded on August 8th and will therefore not be operational.

“We shall have the first schedule interruption on the service on August 8, 2017 due to the national elections.” Kenya Railway Managing Director Atanas Maina said.

The train, which currently carries 2,700 passengers a day, plans to halt its operations to allow its staff and other service providers to exercise their democratic voting rights.

“It is imperative that staff and service providers of the Madaraka Express exercise their democratic voting rights,” said Kenya Railway Managing Director Atanas Maina.

Also read: KENYA'S GENERAL ELECTION THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN AFRICA AND 2ND MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE WORLD

Kenya’s general elections are scheduled to be held on 8 August 2017, where Kenyans would get a chance to democratically elect their preferred candidates through the electronic voting system.

This year’s election is hotly contested and has attracted a total of 16,259 Kenyans competing for 1,882 positions, an increase of 3,483 candidates compared to 12,776 aspirants who vied for various seats in the March 4, 2013 elections.

Also read: KENYA RAILWAYS IS TAKING KENYANS FOR A RIDE WITH ENDLESS TALES INSTEAD OF FACILITATING MEMORABLE MADARAKA EXPRESS TRIPS

Since its inception, Madaraka Express has become one of the most popular means of transport between Nairobi and Mombasa due to its affordable nature and shorter time.

It charges just $7 for an economy class seat and $30 for first class compared to busses which charge between $10 – 25 for the same distance.

Since June 1st when it became operational, two Madaraka Express trains have been departing at 9am daily from Nairobi and Mombasa, offering a four-and-a-half hour non-stop connection between the two cities.

Also read: KENYA DEPLOYS ARMY TO GUARD TELECOMMUNICATION MASTS AHEAD OF GENERAL ELECTION