A man died early Wednesday morning after a train ran over him as he was lying on the Nairobi-Nanyuki railway in Thirigici, Kirinyaga County.
According to relatives, 38-year-old Alfred Migwi, who was mentally challenged, has several times before been found lying on the railway line.
“He was crushed at around 3 am, and this is not the first time for him to lie along the railway line because he even cooks along the railway line at night,” one of the family members, Leah Mwangi said.
Shocked residents who came all the way from the neighbouring Kibirigwi, Mururi-ini, Sagana and other parts of Ndia said this is the first incident to be witnessed in the area.
“At first we thought the man wanted to take his own life, only to be told by the family member had a mental problem,” David Kariuki said.
Kirinyaga West Sub-County police commander Moses Koskei said Migwi’s remains were later picked from the scene and taken to Karatina mortuary.
“We are advising residents living along the railway line to be very careful and take care of their families who have mental problems,” Koskei said.