Kenya Railways has rescheduled its Madaraka Express night service from Mombasa to Nairobi after a technical malfunction forced the cancellation of the 10:00 pm train on Sunday, July 6, causing disruption for hundreds of travelers.

In a statement issued shortly after midnight on Monday, July 7, the corporation confirmed that the affected service would now depart at 8 am.Passengers who had tickets for the disrupted journey were directed to report to the Mombasa Terminus, with their original tickets still valid for the revised time.

 “Following the earlier suspension of the 10:00 pm Madaraka Express from Mombasa to Nairobi, we are working diligently to resolve the technical issue,” the agency said. “Meanwhile, arrangements have been made to accommodate all affected passengers, including those who missed earlier departures.”

Kenya Railways clarified that the disruption was caused entirely by a mechanical issue, pushing back against speculation that the suspension may have been linked to wider security operations.

“We wish to reiterate that the suspension was purely due to a mechanical issue. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience. Passenger safety and comfort remain our top priorities,” the statement added.

The Madaraka Express, which connects the coastal city of Mombasa to Nairobi, is widely used by travelers, especially for overnight journeys.

The abrupt suspension has drawn sharp attention online, particularly as it occurred when many young people were returning from the Summer Tide Festival and preparing to join the Saba Saba protests in Nairobi.

The timing of the incident led to public suspicion that the disruption may have been intended to prevent movement and limit participation in the demonstrations.

Kenya Railways had initially issued a late-night alert via social media, assuring the public that engineers were working around the clock to resolve the issue. “Safety remains our utmost priority,” read an earlier post from the agency.