Nairobi, Kenya— A pedestrian footbridge collapsed onto a busy commuter rail line during morning rush hour around 7:45 a.m., injuring at least eight people and paralyzing rail traffic through central Nairobi.
The bridge connects the Kibera informal settlement to the Nairobi Central Station platform, carrying thousands of daily commuters who cross the tracks. Witnesses said the bridge was packed when a support beam cracked. The steel structure sagged, then dropped onto the rails in a cloud of dust and rust.
Two pedestrians fell onto the tracks with the debris. Others were thrown against railings. One commuter who was mid-crossing said, "We heard metal creaking, then it just went, people fell, everyone was screaming, we could not move." Train drivers approaching the station braked hard to avoid hitting wreckage.
Kenya Railways halted all commuter services on the line. The collapse blocked both the commuter track and a freight siding used for cargo to Mombasa. Hundreds of commuters were stranded at stations. Matatus were overwhelmed with diverted passengers.
The footbridge, built in 2019 as part of a commuter upgrade project, was constructed by a local contractor. Residents said its floor plates had rusted through and its bolts were loose. They said they reported swaying for months. A Kenya Railways engineer said load testing had not been done since installation.
The Kenya National Highways Authority and the Nairobi County government disputed responsibility for maintenance. Each said the other was supposed to inspect the structure. Documents show no inspection report filed in the last 18 months.
Rescue teams from the Kenya Red Cross and Nairobi Fire Brigade cut through twisted metal to free a woman whose leg was trapped. All injured were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital. No fatalities have been confirmed, but two injuries are serious.
The transport ministry ordered an audit of all pedestrian bridges over rail lines in Nairobi. There are 14 such structures, many built quickly during recent rail expansion. Safety advocates say many are over capacity.
Clearance work began by noon, with cranes lifting bridge sections off the tracks. The rail line is expected to remain closed until engineers certify the adjacent supports.
The cause is under investigation. Officials have not ruled out overloading and corrosion.
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