NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 21 – At least two people were killed and scores others injured after a cargo train derailed in the sprawling Kibera slum on Monday.
Several people were still believed trapped beneath the train wreck.
The train, which was headed for Kampala with a load of cooking oil, derailed and slammed into passers-by who were walking beside the railtrack on Monday morning. It then crashed into shanties along the railway line. The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.
Officials led by Nairobi Provincial Police Boss Anthony Kibuchi and the St. John\’s Ambulance rushed to the scene and began evacuating those injured.
Police however had a hectic time trying to control the surging crowd that was looting the cooking oil from the containers.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in whose constituency the accident occurred, called for an immediate investigation and also sent his condolences to the families of those involved in the tragedy.
"It is my hope that the authorities will investigate the circumstances of this tragedy,” the PM said. "Both the Government and Rift Valley Railways must look at the operations, maintenance and the tracks of this rail system.”
The PM also raised concern over the safety of the entire rail system.
"Whether it is human error or system malfunction – it raises serious questions. We must investigate this accident until we determine why this happened and what must be done to ensure it never happens again… I ask the company to fully cooperate," Mr Odinga said.
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