Cargo services at Mombasa Port resume after temporary interruption due to floods

The Kenya Railways Corporation has announced the resumption of cargo services after a temporary halt over the weekend at the port of Mombasa due to heavy rains that have pounded the coastal city this week.

The state-owned rail company said the rains had affected normal train operations, including cargo transfers, loading as well as offloading activities at the Port of Mombasa.

"Following the corporation's interventions to restore normalcy in the section that was damaged by the heavy rains between Mariakani and Mombasa Terminus, movement of cargo trains to and from Mombasa has now resumed," Kenya Railways said in a statement on Monday.

"Loading and offloading of cargo at the Port of Mombasa has also commenced, and we are now working round the clock to minimise any delays."

The corporation said the SGR passenger train services continue as per schedule.

Landslide

Kenya Railways had said a section of the SGR corridor between Mombasa Terminus and Mariakani experienced a landslide which resulted in the closure of the section for all freight trains.

"We are, however, allowing passenger trains to pass through the section, under limited speed restrictions and strict supervision.  Consequently, these safety measures have also occasioned delays in departure and arrival of passenger trains at Mombasa terminus," Kenya Railways said in a statement on Saturday.

The government on Saturday said the counties experiencing El Nino rains had risen from 19 to 33 over the past week.

In a statement issued by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding the flood situation in Kenya, some of the worst affected counties include Mombasa, Garissa, Tana River, Makueni, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kwale, Meru, Isiolo, Turkana, Samburu, Wajir, Homa Bay and Busia.

The DP has said the situation has continued to threaten lives and that multi-agency teams drawn from government agencies, county governments and partners are responding in various ways to mitigate the negative impact of the El Nino rains.

Last week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the ongoing El Nino rains in Kenya had claimed 46 lives, with thousands more displaced by floods.