IDPs scramble for food after train derails along the Nairobi-Nakuru line

Rail transport along the Nairobi-Nakuru line was paralysed after a cargo train carrying cereals to Uganda derailed in Naivasha.

The accident between Longonot and Mai Mahiu trading centres occurred after a section of the rail near a IDP camp was tampered with.

This became an early Christmas gift for the tens of IDPs who scrambled for wheat and sorghum before the police moved in and stopped the looting.

When The Standard team arrived at the scene, sacks of the cereals littered the place, while dozens of people were carting away the cargo. The police had to shoot in the air to disperse the crowd.

During the accident, the driver and a passenger in the train were injured and rushed to Mt Longonot Hospital in Naivasha.

According to a rescuer at the scene, Clinton Lukulu, the train derailed at around 8am while on its way to Uganda from Nairobi.

Lukulu, who is also the hospital administrator, said the driver and his conductor had serious injuries but were in stable condition.

GOD SENT

"We were informed of the accident and rushed to the scene only to be met with a chaotic scene. We stabilised the two and are now in a stable condition," he said.

A witness narrated how the IDPs rushed to the scene soon after the accident, stealing tens of sacks of wheat and sorghum.

"The IDPs had a field day carting away the bags of wheat and sorghum. Even the loud sound of police gun shots could not repel them," he said.

A senior officer from Rift Valley Railways who declined to be named confirmed the accident, adding that it would take two days to clear the affected section.

"Our engineers are on their way to the damaged section. Repair works might take two days before normal services resume," he said.

The IDPs termed the incident as an early Christmas for suffering families around the area.

According to an IDP, only identified as Kimani, they had stayed for over five months without getting food relief from the Government.

"We were only collecting grains that had spilled from the train due to lack of food back in the camps," said the IDP.