Kenya Railways suspends decision prohibiting foodstuff on SGR train

Kenya Railways has temporarily rescinded its not-welcomed decision to ban foodstuff and beverages on its trains.

The agency had prohibited passengers from bringing food and drinks on board its fast trains operating between Nairobi and Mombasa. It warned they would confiscate the items at the security checkpoints.

Kenya Railways says the decision follows a public outcry on the announcement made on Wednesday.

“Following customer feedback on the notice prohibiting entry of beverages and foodstuff into the standard gauge railway (SGR) termini and stations, Kenya Railways wishes to reassure our customers that we have instituted negotiations with our service providers,” the company said in a statement to Standard Digital.

It added that the company wielded to the backlash and is negotiating with its service providers and during the period, passengers have the freedom to bring food and drinks from outside.

But the decision prohibiting alcoholic drinks at the stations and in the trains still remains in force.

The Wednesday announcement was heavily criticized by a section of Kenyans who termed it as an impromptu decision that wasn’t well thought out.

In the changes, the travellers were only supposed to buy food and beverages inside the coaches by NAS Airport Services, a local subsidiary of Servair and the third-largest airline catering and logistics business globally.