A Kenya Railways freight train transporting cargo from Nairobi to Mombasa caught fire in the Masimba area of Makueni County on Wednesday, July 1, triggering an emergency response.
Videos and images from the scene show the locomotive engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to several cargo wagons as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Residents gathered near the scene in an attempt to assess the situation before emergency responders arrived.
Emergency teams were dispatched to contain the blaze and secure the area as investigations into the incident got underway.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage. However, preliminary reports indicate that no injuries or fatalities have been recorded. A typical Kenya Railways freight train is usually operated by a locomotive driver, an assistant driver, and a conductor.
The train was travelling on the old metre gauge railway (MGR). While the exact location where the fire started remains unclear, Masimba has a nearby railway passing station that could assist emergency response efforts.
The incident is expected to disrupt freight operations along the Nairobi–Mombasa rail corridor as Kenya Railways undertakes safety assessments and recovery work before normal services resume.
The fire could also affect cargo movement between the Port of Mombasa and inland destinations, potentially slowing supply chains and delaying deliveries until the damaged section is cleared and operations are restored.
As of the time of publication, Kenya Railways had not issued an official statement regarding the cause of the fire or the expected impact on railway operations.