Kenyan police have been deployed to ease a traffic jam
reportedly stretching for 50km (30 miles) on the highway between Mombasa and
Nairobi.
The road is crucial for East Africa’s economy as it links
the port of Mombasa to landlocked countries, such as Uganda, South Sudan and
Rwanda.
the port of Mombasa to landlocked countries, such as Uganda, South Sudan and
Rwanda.
The worst-affected area is around Taru, about 80km from
Mombasa. A BBC correspondent say the jam has been caused by repairs to the road
following heavy rains.
Mombasa. A BBC correspondent say the jam has been caused by repairs to the road
following heavy rains.
Traffic jams are common in Kenya and are often caused by its
badly maintained road network but this is said to be the worst for several
years.
badly maintained road network but this is said to be the worst for several
years.
More than 1,500 trucks have been stuck, Willingtone
Kiberenge, acting chief executive of the Kenya Transporters Association, told
Reuters news agency.
Kiberenge, acting chief executive of the Kenya Transporters Association, told
Reuters news agency.
Some motorists have been stuck in the countryside, miles
from the nearest shop, since the jam began on Tuesday evening.
from the nearest shop, since the jam began on Tuesday evening.
“I have not eaten since yesterday morning, not showered
and not even changed clothes,” Nathaniel Chweya, a lorry driver taking 10
cars to the Ugandan capital of Kampala, told Reuters.
and not even changed clothes,” Nathaniel Chweya, a lorry driver taking 10
cars to the Ugandan capital of Kampala, told Reuters.
It is only the traffic heading towards Nairobi that is
affected by the hold-up.
affected by the hold-up.
Some trucks that tried to turn off the single carriageway
onto the scrub land alongside have become stuck in the mud.
onto the scrub land alongside have become stuck in the mud.
The BBC’s Mohammud Ali Mohamed in Nairobi says there is a
railway between Mombasa and Nairobi but it is old, unreliable and it takes
several days to make the 500km journey.
railway between Mombasa and Nairobi but it is old, unreliable and it takes
several days to make the 500km journey.
Those who can afford it – and do not have heavy loads – tend
to fly between the cities as there are hourly flights, he adds.
to fly between the cities as there are hourly flights, he adds.
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