FIRST ISSUING A FOOD AND DRINK PROHIBITION ORDER AND THEN MAKING A U-TURN – TEXT BOOK BEHAVIOUR BY KENYA RAILWAYS
(Posted 07th October 2019)
Kenya Railways has lifted their prohibition order to passengers on the SGR trains to bring food and drinks after a public outcry once again forced the company’s management to take down an unsustainable and poorly thought out order.
Last week did Kenya Railways make the following announcement:
‘Kenya Railways wishes to remind our passengers and customers that alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and cooked food are strictly prohibited into the termini and stations. Those items will be confiscated at security checkpoints at the termini and train stations. Please note that items once confiscated will not be repossessed‘, effectively leaving the catering on the trains to NAS, which promptly led to allegations of political influence peddling by the owners of that company. Kenyans took to the social media in their scores blasting the railway operator for their orders and a young woman, when denied entry into the terminal in Mombasa, reportedly stripped herself naked in protest.
Mainstream media too had nothing good to say about the company, which since the launch of operations has time and again issued hasty orders only to withdraw them following public protests.
The rail operator in a public statement said: ‘Kenya Railways wishes to inform our esteemed customers that a decision has been undertaken to suspend the directive until further notice to allow for conclusion of the negotiations‘.
Food is presently available in the dining cars of the four passenger trains which ply the route to and from Mombasa every day but, according to information received, are many passengers not ready to leave their seats and go to the dining car, leaving their baggage unattended and out of sight.
Besides have many past comments seen criticized the food as too expensive and not up to standards, while giving no options for people with special food preferences like vegans, passengers with allergies and those with special dietary requirements.
