"I am a student and my family is in Mombasa and when the cessation of movement was announced, I could not travel back home; that is why I have taken advantage of this opportunity to go and be with my family," Kirimi said.

According to Mainga, sacrifices have to be made in the wake of the pandemic because a return to normalcy and full operations will have to be gradual.

"Despite being fully booked, we have to operate at half capacity and though it might be an economic disadvantage, it is better than having no services at all. In addition, our freight service has been running smoothly during the pandemic and that has somehow cushioned us against the economic effects of the virus," Mainga said.

Records from the Africa Star Railway Operation Co, the Chinese company that manages the railway, indicate that between Jan 1 and July 10 the railway had transported approximately 207,000 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs. This includes 5,063 TEUs of dangerous goods, 5,052 TEUs of grain and 90 TEUs of essential COVID-19 prevention materials, such as disinfectants, ethyl and alcohol.

Passenger services were suspended on April 7 after Kenyatta announced cessation of movement into and out of the Nairobi metropolitan area, Mombasa county and Mandera county.