Kenya Railways has introduced new, upgraded passenger seats on the Madaraka Express trains, but accessing them requires a specific booking method to ensure passengers get the new coaches.

• To guarantee a seat in the new coaches, passengers must book over the counter at railway stations, as online bookings do not guarantee allocation to the upgraded seating.
• The upgrade program, which began in late 2025, is an ongoing process with only two economy-class coaches per trip currently featuring the new seats.
• Passengers booking in person need to present their National ID or Passport and can pay via cash, mobile money, or card.