Six suspects have been arrested in a major crackdown on a fake Madaraka Express ticket booking scheme that allegedly targeted unsuspecting travellers by posing as official Kenya Railways booking agents.
Kenya Railways announced the arrests on Monday, saying the suspects are linked to fraudulent online booking platforms and individuals accused of impersonating the corporation to swindle members of the public seeking tickets for the popular Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passenger service.
The corporation said the arrests followed investigations into the growing scam, which has seen fraudsters create fake booking channels to deceive customers and collect payments for non-existent train tickets.
Kenya Railways confirmed that investigations are ongoing and warned that more arrests could follow as detectives pursue all those involved in the syndicate.
“The Corporation will continue working closely with relevant investigative agencies to ensure all persons involved are brought to account,” the statement said.
The state corporation urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and avoid booking tickets through unofficial websites, social media pages or third-party agents claiming to represent Kenya Railways.
Passengers who have fallen victim to the scam or have information that could assist investigators have been asked to report the matter to Kenya Railways and the relevant security agencies.
Kenya Railways reiterated that Madaraka Express tickets should only be purchased through its official booking channels, cautioning that using unauthorized platforms exposes travellers to fraud and financial loss.
The warning comes amid increased efforts by authorities to dismantle cyber-enabled fraud networks exploiting the growing demand for online transport services.
