‘WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO DO‘ KENYANS ASK AS RAILWAY COMPANY STOPS MADARAKA EXPRESS ON ELECTION DAY
(Posted 03rd August 2017)
Poor decisions continue to plague Kenya Railways when it comes to the Madaraka Express operations, or as is the case here, the suspension of operations on election day.
The organization is now under huge pressure from the tourism industry and the public at large to finally launch online bookings and payments after last week first demanding foreigners should pay a premium on the current fares – some called it greed incorporated – before bowing to harsh critique and withdrawing the ‘extortion tariff‘ as others named it.
Suggestions that the organization – given the faux pas’ over the past weeks – needs a new leadership are also becoming more vocal as clearly both advisers and advised fail the standards of holding public office and behaving in a fashion becoming to a parastatal body.
Again did Mohammed Hersi, Chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation and new Group CEO of Sun Africa Hotels, take issue with the decision to halt rail traffic, calling it inexplicable and asking what message a public corporation was sending to the country as after all hotels and airports too would be working without interruption on election day, giving their workers time out to cast their votes without grounding their entire operations.
Only two days ago did Blu Panorama resume charter flights to Mombasa in what can almost be called an act of defiance in the face of election fears, but considering that has Kenya Railways position once again become the focus of public anger, disappointment and ridicule for the message they posted. ‘If we Kenyans do not believe in peaceful elections and declarations, then who will. As you say, there is a charter airline launching flights at this time of our country’s history and our own railway operator clearly casts doubts on the orderly conduct of the elections. It is a crying shame and those responsible should be held accountable‘ ranted a regular Nairobi based tourism source.
