President Kenyatta Surprises Commuters As He Boards SGR Passenger Train Madaraka Express to Mombasa

President Kenyatta has traveled to Mombasa from Nairobi using the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger train, Madaraka Express.

Kenyatta, who is accompanied by First Lady Margaret, will be spending his Christmas holiday in Mombasa.

During the over 400-kilometer trip, Kenyatta and Margaret walked along the coaches and mingled freely with other Kenyan travelers who were excited by the President’s presence.

“Earlier today, I took the SGR train from Nairobi to Mombasa, during which I met and interacted with fellow commuters who shared their interesting experiences about the service,” President Kenyatta says in a tweet.

“I am glad that the #SGR train services have enhanced travel for Wananchi between the two cities.”

On December 2nd, Kenya Railways Corporation announced that the Madaraka Express train was fully booked up to December 25th.

“We are fully booked over weekends and the days to December 25,” Kenya Railways said in a statement.

This is the second time Kenyatta has boarded the SGR passenger train since its launch in mid-2017 when he used it for the first time.

“It was just public he boarded and alighted as everyone witnessed. He (Kenyatta) walked around and talked to people about the SGR service. Wakafika Mombasa akashuka and wakaenda zao na Mama. He is basically spending the holiday and part of January there,” a source told The Star.