NAIROBI RAILS RIPPED UP

Posted on 23 April 2009 by Railways Africa Editor

On 15 April, rioting youths ripped up a substantial portion of the main railway running through Kibera township near Nairobi, severely disrupting train operations. Their actions, recalling similar incidents during civil disturbances following the general elections in Kenya last year, were in protest at “Uganda’s continued occupation of Migingo Island in Lake Victoria”.  Reuben Olita and Cyprian Musoke, writing in New Vision, published in Kampala, report: “An unidentified person was injured seriously in Kisumu, a town near the Uganda border, and rail operations paralysed. The youth lit bonfires and barricaded the roads most of Wednesday [15 April]..  “Uganda depends heavily on the railway line for access to the Kenyan port of Mombasa for its imports and exports. The railway line also serves Rwanda, Sudan, Burundi and the DR Congo. Kenyan government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua yesterday said Kenya and Uganda were not at war.   “He said youth in Kibera were uprooting the railway line but the Kenyans would have to repair it. Mutua was speaking at a joint press conference in Nairobi, which was also addressed by his Ugandan counterpart Fred Opolot.The issue of the island, he said, would be solved diplomatically. He was quoted saying: ‘As East Africans heading for a political federation, we want our people to benefit equitably from our resources, not through issuance of inflammatory statements’.  “Despite his caution, seven MPs from the Lake Victoria region have asked Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to declare Uganda ‘a hostile neighbour’ and forcefully take control of the island.The MPs said the deployment of Ugandan Police on the island was demeaning to the sovereignty of Kenya. Led by Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), the MPs demanded that the navy and army be sent to the island.

“Both Kenya and Uganda claim ownership of the one-acre island in Lake Victoria.” 