The "Lunatic Line"

About a century ago, Indian communities were sent in ships and dhows across the Indian Ocean to Kenya in order to become the working labor for, what is believed to be, one of the continent's greatest railways. The descendants of these travelers owe the success they have today, because of the economic and cultural roots the Indian community set in building the railroad a hundred years ago.

The lunatic line received its name by the misfortunes and chaos that surrounded it. The railroad was very costly to build, and also the Indian people worked on the railroads in the wide open, wild animals, like lions would very easily attack them. Reportedly, 30,000 identified men were sent on the journey to Africa. Each had begun the difficult construction of the railroad system between Kisumu, and Mombasa; roughly about 625 miles away from each other. About 2,500 men had died by the time the railroad was completed, that is four people for every mile.

One cause for the high death rate was the lions. These man eaters are said to have eaten 28-100 people. Another reason for the mortality rate was the diseases that were spread. Many died of malaria and black fever when they built the terrains, and had no medical assistance.



One of the lions that was stalking and killing the workers.