Kenya Railways faces Sh547 billion debt and issues six new passenger safety rules

Kenya Railways is the government's most indebted agency, and it has also issued a set of safety guidelines for passengers ahead of the festive travel period.

What happened

The Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is the government's most indebted agency, holding a Sh547 billion debt from loans borrowed from China to finance construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line [1]. It tops a list of five agencies that owe the government Sh880.75 billion, according to [1]. KRC also has the largest unpaid loan balance, with Sh473 billion in arrears as of June, shown in the 2025/26 annual public debt management report [1]. Treasury said total loan arrears stood at Sh568.9 billion, of which Sh473.1 billion relates to KRC [1].

Separately, Kenya Railways released six safety guidelines for train passengers in an advisory issued on Thursday, November 5 [2][3].

Why Kenyans are searching for it

The sources do not explain why the corporation is trending or why people are searching for it. They cover two separate stories: a public debt report [1] and a passenger safety advisory [2][3]. The safety advisory was framed as a general appeal, and the sources do not link it to the debt figures.

Key facts

• KRC's Sh547 billion debt comes from loans used to build the SGR [1].
• The SGR has run passenger and cargo services between Mombasa and Suswa since mid-2017 [1].
• The SGR made a Sh3.2 billion profit in the 2025/26 financial year, after years of running at a loss [1].
• Kenya Airways owed the government Sh122.9 billion by the end of June, the second-highest amount [1].
• The six rules include standing behind the yellow line on platforms, boarding and alighting only after a train has stopped, boarding one at a time, and avoiding pushing or rushing [2][3].
• Passengers are also asked to follow announcements from stewards and train crew, and parents and guardians are asked to keep children within sight [2].
• Kenya Railways warned against using headphones or mobile phones while walking on platforms, saying they could stop passengers noticing approaching trains [2].
• Kenya Railways did not specify the stations where the rules would be enforced or whether penalties would apply [3].

What to watch

Readers should watch whether the SGR's 2025/26 profit leads to repayments of the debt, which the sources describe as a hope rather than a confirmed outcome [1]. They should also watch whether the safety rules are enforced at stations, since the sources do not say where or how this will happen [3]. Kenya Railways has said passenger numbers are expected to rise over the festive season, so further advisories are possible [2].

Sources

1. [1] Kenya Railways, Kenya Airways top five State agencies that owe Sh880.75 billion - Daily Nation
2. [2] Kenya Railways Unveils 6 Rules for All Passengers Ahead of Festive Season - Kenyans.co.ke
3. [3] Passengers must comply: Kenya Railways releases 6 new rules - Tuko News

Compiled by the NairobiCity trend desk from the sources above.