Category: News

An oil-transporting train from Nanyuki to Nairobi caused a scare in Kabuta village, Sagana, after catching fire following a mechanical breakdown.

Reports indicate that the train had just delivered oil in Nanyuki and was on its way back to Nairobi before the incident.

The cabin crew escaped unhurt and were able to put out the fire before it spread to other ‘wagons’, in efforts backed up by firefighters from Murang’a station.

According to Kenya Railways, the fire was caused by an electric fault in the train’s engine.

“The fire was caused by a slight electric fault in the locomotive engine and has since been contained. Our engineers arrived at the area promptly and rectified the problem,” Kenya Railways tweeted on Sunday.

Early this year, the first of two passenger trains from Nanyuki to Nairobi temporarily stalled at Ruthagati in Nyeri County with more than 1,500 passengers on board.

The train developed mechanical problems believed to have been caused by the heavy load and the area’s topography.

However, the onboard crew resolved the mechanical issue, allowing the journey to continue after over five hours of stalling.

Tanzania is preparing to roll out Covid-19 vaccine following a team of experts report presented to President Samia Suluhu.

The report was presented to President Suluhu on Friday by the team that was tasked with evaluating the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country in April.

The team led by Prof Said Aboud also recommended that the country continues releasing Covid-19 statistics, which was stopped by the late President Dr John Pombe Magufuli. By the time the country stopped releasing the statistics, Tanzania had  509 cases of Covid-19.

“The committee has advised different ways of mobilising financial resources from the budget and other stakeholders including international organisations and the private sector,” said the State House in a statement signed by the Presidency spokesperson Gerson Msigwa.

“The money will be used to finance medical equipment, training and the vaccines,” stated Mr Msigwa.

Tanzania was among six countries that had ignored calls to roll out Covid-19 vaccine. Others include North Korea, Haiti, Chad, Burundi and Eritrea.

President Suluhu has directed the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr Dorothy Gwajima, to prepare a presentation that will be discussed by the Cabinet that will make decision about the committee’s recommendations.

The President has also allowed foreign embassies and other international organisations to import vaccines for their people and employees.