Paul Ouma, a resident of Kisumu, is complaining that the passenger train that derailed in the lakeside city caused him not to report to work.
Ouma, while speaking to K24 Digital reporter, said he relies on the early morning Nairobi-Kisumu passenger train to wake up.
He noted that the noise that the train makes as it passes at 6 am serves as his alarm.
Also Read:
"Nakaa karibu na reli so nangojanga ikipita, inapitanga saa kumi na mbili, so ikipita ndo natoka naenda kazi. Nalalanga fofo so nkishaskia kama inalia ndo naamka naenda kazi. So nimengojea kuskia sijaskia so kufika asubui kitu saa moja saa mbili saa tatu saa hii ndo nashtukia wengine wanakuja wakisema ati gari imeanguka," Paul Ouma said.
Ouma further revealed that the train derailed because of the loose soil swept by rainwater which covered the railway track.
"Unaona kenye imetendeka hii ni mambo ya kukosa kumaliza hii flyover walikua wanajenga hii na waliacha mchanga mingi hapa kwa hizi sideways ya hii barabara. So hio mchanga zinatoka huko, a huko zinakuja na za kule zinakuja alafu zinakutana hapa katikati sa zina place za kuenda coz hapa kuna mlima. Alafu zina ziba njia na hio reli. So badala hii kitu ipite inapata kama mchanga imejaa," he said.
Ouma further urged the government to employ youth in the area to be on the lookout to identify areas where the railway track is covered by soil to avoid the train derailing.
"So kenya tunaomba tafadhali serikali sisi kama vijanaa wenye wanakaa karibu na reli mututafute ile mvua ikinyesha mali kama hapa tunaweza tembea tuangalie imeziba wapi so tunaweza toa mchanga before gari ikuje."
Train blocked Kisumu-Kakamega road
The passenger train en route to Kisumu from Nairobi blocked a section of the Kisumu-Kakamega road when it derailed on Saturday morning September 24, 2022.
The train, a routine passenger service, departed Nairobi on Friday for its journey to the lakeside city only to derail at the Mamboleo cross way blocking the Kisumu-Kakamega road resulting in a traffic snarl-up lasting for several hours.
According to Kenya Railways, in a statement released to the media, the incident occurred as the Kisumu night train departed Kibos station.
Kenya Railways said the accident was caused by the siltation of accumulation of waste due to poor drainage and dropping from a nearby road construction site.
According to Railways OCPD Evance Gatembe, the train was carrying 250 passengers.
"We wish to state that there are no injuries recorded and Kenya Railways is closely working with KeNHA to clear the road and bring the situation back to normalcy, "read part of the statement.
Road users were advised to use alternative routes to and from Kisumu.
