‘You wi*l be jailed for 10 years if you block a train’ – authorities announce

By , K24 Digital
On Fri, 24 Sep, 2021 09:27 | 2 mins read
SGR
SGR. PHOTO/Courtesy

You will be jailed for 10 years if you are found guilty of blocking a train, the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has said.

In a statement issued on Thursday, September 23, the corporation said that all those who will be found breaking rail traffic rules will be in for it.

“The corporation wishes to advise the public to exercise caution and high alert while crossing railway lines,” KRC said in a statement.

The organisation said that it had noted that motorists and individuals are breaking rail traffic rules leading to accidents that can be avoided.

In 2020, the corporation registered an increase in inbound traffic across the country for freight and passenger trains.

It asked Kenyans to stick to provisions of the Kenya Railways Corporations Act (Cap 397) under section 66.

According to the Act, anyone who engages in any act which obstructs or might obstruct the operations of a train, vessel or vehicle of the corporation and might endanger the life of any person shall be guilty of an offense and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.

“Pedestrians together with motorists are requested to approach the crossing levels with care to avoid obstructing the oncoming train,” it reads.

The organisation urged Kenyans to be keen and extra careful whenever they are walking past or crossing railway lines.

This comes just a day after a train that was heading to Nanyuki hit a truck that was crossing the railway line.

The truck was carrying crates of sodas and Kenyans took the opportunity to steal hundreds of the crates while others watched from a distance in dismay.

Nobody was injured in the horrific accident that shocked Kenyans.

This year, two other trains were involved in accidents in the country. In a recent report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) road accidents have been on the increase.