A train accident on the Nairobi-Kisumu railway line caused a traffic jam on the Kakamega-Kisumu road on Saturday morning.

The night train derailed at 7 am as it departed from Kibos station, blocking the highway.

According to a statement issued by the Kenya Railways Corporation, the train's derailment was caused by heavy siltation at the Kakamega-Kisumu and the railway line intersection.

“This is due to heavy siltation at the point the Kakamega Kisumu road intersects the railway line,” the statement read.

“The siltation was as a result of the - accumulation of waste due to poor drainage and dumping from a nearby road construction site which was washed off by heavy rains that occurred last night, and then settled into the road - railwayline intersection.”

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Kenya Railways confirmed there were no injuries during the morning incident as no coaches were damaged in the event.

“We wish to state there were no injuries, neither were any of the passenger coaches affected,” Kenya Railways said.

Kenya Railways apologised to members of the public as they worked closely with (Kenya National Highways Authority) KeNHA to clear the road and bring the situation back to normalcy. 

Motorists plying the Kakamega-Kisumu highway were forced to wait or seek alternative routes to and from their destinations.