Kenya Railways announces refund to passengers affected by SGR cancellation during Summertides weekend

Kenya Railways has announced it will issue refunds to passengers affected by the cancellation of the 10 p.m. Madaraka Express train from Mombasa to Nairobi on Sunday, July 6, 2025.

In a statement, the corporation apologized for the disruption, attributing it to operational difficulties that arose after a large number of youths remained in Mombasa following the lively Summertides Festival weekend.

The cancellation left many stranded and unable to return to Nairobi as planned.

To mitigate the inconvenience, Kenya Railways clarified that passengers who did not print their tickets would be automatically refunded through the mobile numbers used during booking.

Those who had printed their tickets were advised to present them at the nearest station or terminus to process their refunds.

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— Kenya Railways (@KenyaRailways_) July 15, 2025

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and understanding,” the statement read.

The train service disruption triggered widespread reactions on social media, especially from passengers who had booked the overnight journey intending to arrive in Nairobi by Monday morning.

Many expressed frustration, not only over the cancellation but also the ripple effects it caused.

Compounding the chaos was the timing of the disruption, which coincided with Saba Saba Day—July 7—a day historically marked by nationwide protests.

As the country braced for demonstrations, security forces heightened their presence, setting up barricades and roadblocks in and around Nairobi to prevent protestors from traveling into the city.

This security operation further impacted travelers along the Mombasa-Diani Road, particularly near the Dongo Kundu bypass, where hundreds of young people were caught in long traffic jams.

Most were returning from Diani Beach after the festival but found themselves stuck as police conducted intensive vehicle checks, targeting groups suspected to be heading for the protests.

Videos circulating online showed distressed Kenyans recounting their ordeals, with many criticizing both the cancellation of the Madaraka Express and the security measures that disrupted road travel.