Major Disruptions After President Uhuru’s Directives To Curb Coronavirus.

The Madaraka Express trains operating between Nairobi and Mombasa were on Monday, April 6, withdrawn from operations following a statement issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday as the government heightened its measures to combat Covid-19

This marks one of the many sectors that will bear the heaviest brunt of the new directives.

“Madaraka Express trains operating between Nairobi and Mombasa withdrew after order on cessation of movement,” Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga announced.

According to data released by the Kenya National Bureau of statistics in March 2019, the railway had raked in Ksh10 billion in revenue from passenger operations, income which has now been halted for at least 21-days.

Matatus and buses that ply intercounty routes will also be forced to forego a huge chunk of potential revenue following the cessation of movement in and out of the 4 designate counties namely, Nairobi, Kilifi, Kwale, and Mombasa.

A driver who also owns a matatu under the Kinatwa Sacco – plies the Kitui to Nairobi route, expressed uncertainty over his future, but expressed that the move was necessary to fight the spread of the virus.

“I am still in shock. This is one of my most profitable routes and I’m not sure what the next 3 weeks hold for me. However, maybe after this move, we can be able to contain this thing,” the matatu owner who preferred anonymity expressed.

Major bus companies that had recently adjusted their timetables to adhere to the dusk-to-dawn curfew have now been forced to completely withdraw their services touching on the affected counties for the 21-day period.

Traders who rely on Nairobi and Mombasa as their key markets are also currently scrambling to find a way of adapting to the new measures in order to stay afloat.

The multi-million shilling miraa industry is one among the many sectors that will be forced to adapt as it deals in commodities that need to be sourced from upcountry.

In his latest directive, president Uhuru made it clear that only vehicles delivering essential goods or services would be exempted from the new directives.