Several motorists and passengers were forced to spend the night on the road on Wednesday, November 26, due to heavy congestion along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Preliminary reports indicate that the gridlock, which stretched several kilometres, was caused by an accident that occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Tsavo town.
The accident caused a complete shutdown of the busy highway in both lanes, with Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and personal vehicles stuck on the road for more than 12 hours.
Most drivers and passengers who failed to secure shelter for the night were forced to sleep inside their vehicles, as efforts by the police to clear the congestion proved futile.
Footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed several vehicles, mainly buses and trailers, lined up along the highway, with vehicles seen moving at a slower pace.
Among those affected were passengers using the popular commuter bus company, Tahmeed. The company announced on Thursday morning, informing passengers about the delays.
According to the bus company, there would be delays in arrivals from Nairobi to Mombasa and from Mombasa to Nairobi occasioned by the traffic gridlock in the Tsavo area.
"We are constantly monitoring the situation, and should there be a need to change our normal route schedule time to different destinations," the company announced.
"We shall communicate via our customer care hotlines in due time. The inconvenience caused is deeply regrettable," the statement added.
By Thursday morning at around 7am, police officers and traffic marshals from Taita Taveta County were still working to manage the heavy buildup of vehicles and restore smooth flow.
The Nairobi-Mombasa highway is one of the country's busiest routes, but it often experiences traffic congestion, mainly due to accidents and lane indiscipline by some drivers.
Motorists have since been urged to exercise patience as the relevant authorities continue to put in effort to contain the menace that has put transport along the busy corridor on hold.
