Police investigate vandalism of guard rail ahead of SGR launch

Kinango OCPD Fredrick Lai (in a hat), accompanied by detectives, asseses the damage to a guard rail on a section of the Standard Gauge Railway at Kibanda Hasara, Kwale County, on May 27, 2017. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The vandalised section is at Kibanda Hasara, Kwale County.

A section of the new standard gauge railway has been damaged at Mariakani

However, Kenya Railways Managing Director Atanas Maina termed the damage to the guard rail as “nothing major” even though he could not specify the extent of the damage.

The vandalised section is at Kibanda Hasara, Kwale County. At least eight metal bars were removed in the Friday incident.

"Police are investigating what happened but we view this as a malicious act," Mr Maina said.

Detectives asses the damage to a guard rail at Kibanda Hasara, Kwale County, on May 27, 2017, ahead of the Standard Gauge Railway launch. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to launch the railway on Wednesday.

Mr Maina said it's early to conclude whether the damage was intended to sabotage the commissioning.

"We are waiting for investigations to be completed to make a conclusion," he said.