museum review of
Kenya national railway museum - Nairobi
The Nairobi Railway Museum in Kenya is a place where history seems to be holding on by a thread. While it should serve as a proud reminder of the country's rich railway heritage, what you actually find is a museum in a state of decay, with a rather random collection of artifacts that feel more like an afterthought than a carefully curated exhibit. It is a sad excuse for a museum.
The museum itself, housed in an old building near the Nairobi railway station, offers a glimpse into the past with relics from the East African Railways. However, the exhibits feel disjointed, and many of the artifacts are poorly maintained, with some even covered in dust. The overall experience feels less like a walk through history and more like a stroll through a neglected attic full of forgotten items​.
That said, the museum does have one highlight: the story of the man-eating lion that terrorized workers during the construction of the infamous Lunatic Line, the railway from Nairobi to Kampala. This railway earned its name due to the treacherous swamps, hostile tribal territories, and rugged terrain it crossed, leading to many deaths along the way. The legend goes that one of the workers, who claimed to be the best lion hunter in both hemispheres, was left alone in a wagon at the spot where the lion had been seen. A week later, they found him inside, clutching his gun—tragically killed by the very lion he swore to hunt down.
While this tale is captivating, it’s not enough to lift the overall experience of the museum. It’s a place with great potential, but it’s currently more of a sad relic than a proud celebration of Kenya’s railway history.
The museum itself, housed in an old building near the Nairobi railway station, offers a glimpse into the past with relics from the East African Railways. However, the exhibits feel disjointed, and many of the artifacts are poorly maintained, with some even covered in dust. The overall experience feels less like a walk through history and more like a stroll through a neglected attic full of forgotten items​.
That said, the museum does have one highlight: the story of the man-eating lion that terrorized workers during the construction of the infamous Lunatic Line, the railway from Nairobi to Kampala. This railway earned its name due to the treacherous swamps, hostile tribal territories, and rugged terrain it crossed, leading to many deaths along the way. The legend goes that one of the workers, who claimed to be the best lion hunter in both hemispheres, was left alone in a wagon at the spot where the lion had been seen. A week later, they found him inside, clutching his gun—tragically killed by the very lion he swore to hunt down.
While this tale is captivating, it’s not enough to lift the overall experience of the museum. It’s a place with great potential, but it’s currently more of a sad relic than a proud celebration of Kenya’s railway history.