Eyewitnesses Recall Chaotic Moments Before Kakamega Train Crash
A freight train derailment in Lugari, Kakamega County, on Wednesday, March 19th, has left residents frustrated and grappling with the aftermath. Witnesses describe a harrowing scene, with attempts to warn the driver proving tragically ineffective.
One local farmer, working near the tracks, recounted seeing the train’s last two wagons losing their wheels. “I was farming nearby when I saw the wheels coming off. I tried to warn the driver to slow down,” he said, but his warnings were ignored. The subsequent derailment scattered roughly ten wagons of unprocessed wheat, drawing a crowd of locals to the scene.
However, the residents’ attempts to collect the spilled wheat were met with resistance from police officers. “I came to collect wheat, but the police sent me away. What are our children supposed to eat?” one resident lamented, expressing the community’s frustration. The train, carrying cargo from Mombasa to Uganda, derailed and tumbled into a steep valley.
Videos and photos circulating online captured the chaotic scene, showing overturned wagons and police officers cordoning off the area to prevent unauthorized access. Fortunately, despite the severity of the accident, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
This incident echoes a similar derailment in Kibwezi, Makueni County, last September. In that case, a train carrying unrefined oil veered off the tracks, prompting locals to attempt to siphon the oil. Police intervention prevented widespread collection, and again, no casualties were reported. These repeated incidents raise concerns about the safety and maintenance of rail transport in the region.
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Eyewitnesses Recall Chaotic Moments Before Kakamega Train Crash
