A tale of lost Nanyuki railway map and why the ‘Nation’ killed the story

It’s a seductive tale that never loses in the telling. But in an article, “Mwisho wa Reli Myth Shattered as Railway Map Found”,  David Serem writes that “the myth surrounding the fabled loss of a map that cut short the progression of the railway line beyond Nanyuki has been shattered!”

He recounts in the Weekly Bulletin, official newsletter of Laikipia County Government, how engineers constructing the Nairobi-Nanyuki railways got trapped and carried away by merrymaking and romantic fun that characterises the town and in the process lost the map.

“With nothing to show them the route the railway line was to take, further construction of this critical infrastructure hit a dead (end). This earned Nanyuki the nickname Mwisho wa Reli (end of the railway).”

The article is published in the July 16, 2020 Weekly Bulletin. Then on Nov. 27, 2020 Nation reporter James Murimi came up with his version of the tantalising story titled “Long lost map of Nanyuki rail finally unearthed”.

Alcohol and women

Published online, the story said it’s rumoured the railway ended in Nanyuki in 1954 “because the map was stolen from the lead engineer as he made merry in the town”. Readers enjoyed the article, that is as long as it lasted for it was soon taken down. Some added their own comments, such as this from Eliud Ludikah: “The plan dashed the hopes of railway going to Northern Kenya to Ethiopia, coz of people who love drinking and women.”

The only thing that now remains online is a Nation video in which Rose Maitai, Laikipia Executive for Administration, says the “lost map” was found in the Survey of Kenya.

Why was the story withdrawn, readers ask? Withdrawing a story is a very serious matter. It’s like rewriting history to say something never happened. Normally, if a story has errors it’s corrected, not withdrawn. So I asked Washington Gikunju, NMG Head of News, what happened.

He shared my query with his colleagues to explain “the editorial thinking behind the ongoing review of the story”. Then it emerged the story was withdrawn because of “some inconsistencies”.

John Kamau, Managing Editor, Projects, explains that the Nanyuki line was completed in 1930, so the case of a map dated 1968 getting lost does not make any sense. “If a map was to be found, then it has to be dated pre-1930. Also, all railways terminated at a place,” he says.

“Also our claim that the line reached Nanyuki in 1953 is erroneous… As such, a story based on the wrong premise has to be withdrawn to guard our integrity.”

So the editors say the story was withdrawn to be reviewed “for historical inaccuracies before it goes up again”.

According to Churchill Otieno, NMG Head of Development and Learning, when a story has been changed in substance or sourcing, “we owe our audiences an editor’s footnote explaining what changed and why”.

Utter disrespect for the reader

Indeed, editors should explicitly tell readers why an article was removed. However, after going through a number of editor’s notes when a story is withdrawn, it’s obvious this is rarely done.

In this particular case, the editor’s note is needlessly vague. The only information given to the reader is: “Laikipia Nov 28. Story withdrawn. This story has been withdrawn for an editorial review.” No indication of the title of the story or what it was about, no exact reasons for the withdrawal. This is utter disrespect for the reader.

In any case, if a story is withdrawn to be corrected, this should be done as quickly as possible. It’s been over a week now and yet no corrected story is on sight.

The Public Editor is an independent news ombudsman who handles readers’ complaints on editorial matters including accuracy and journalistic standards. Email: [email protected]. Call or text 0721989264.