Kenya Railways warns passengers against ticket scams targeting Madaraka Express
This warning follows a recent report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which showed a decline in passenger numbers using the Madaraka Express during the first quarter of 2025.
Kenya Railways Corporation has issued a stern warning to passengers intending to travel on the Madaraka Express, urging them to purchase tickets only through official sources to avoid falling victim to online scams.
In a statement released on Tuesday, August 12, the corporation emphasised that the only legitimate ways to buy tickets for the Nairobi-Mombasa route are via the official website metickets.krc.co.ke, the USSD short code *639#, or by visiting any authorised Madaraka Express ticket counters in person.
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The corporation said, "We urge the public to remain vigilant and book exclusively through our official Kenya Railways platforms. Protect yourself from fraud!"
The Madaraka Express operates along the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line between Nairobi and Mombasa, stopping at stations such as Athi River, Emali, Kibwezi, Mtito Andei, Voi, Miasenyi, and Mariakani. It offers two train types: the Intercounty train, which stops at all stations on the route, and the Express train that travels nonstop between the two cities.
This warning follows a recent report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which showed a decline in passenger numbers using the Madaraka Express during the first quarter of 2025.
According to the report, passenger traffic dropped by 2,082 compared to the same period in 2024, with a total of 529,591 passengers recorded between January and March.
Passenger numbers decreased from 192,376 in January 2024 to 188,238 in January 2025. However, February saw a rise from 158,652 passengers in 2024 to 168,897 in 2025, before numbers dipped again in March to 172,456 from 180,645 in the previous year.
Despite fewer passengers, revenue collected during this period increased, likely due to fare hikes introduced in January. Kenya Railways posted earnings of Ksh936,299,658 in the first quarter of 2025, up from Sh880,819,035 during the same period in 2024.
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