SEVERAL drivers and passengers were forced to sleep on the road on Wednesday night, November 26, after a heavy traffic jam occurred on the Nairobi - Mombasa road. The jam, which stretched for several kilometers, was caused by an accident that occurred during the day near the town of Tsavo, causing the closure of both sides of the busy road.
For more than 12 hours, private vehicles and public service vehicles (PSVs) were stranded, with police efforts to restore order reportedly stalled. Many passengers who could not find shelter were forced to sleep in their vehicles, with videos showing long queues of buses and trucks moving at a slow pace.
Tahmeed Bus Company was among those affected by the jam, and issued a statement on Thursday morning that there would be delays on the Nairobi-Mombasa route due to the situation. The company said it was continuing to monitor road conditions and would inform passengers if any changes to the schedule were necessary.
As of 1am on Thursday, police and traffic controllers from Taita Taveta County were still trying to control the heavy traffic. The Nairobi-Mombasa road, one of the country's busiest routes, has been plagued by frequent traffic jams due to accidents and road rage. Drivers have been urged to be patient as authorities work to restore normalcy.