Travellers heading to Nairobi and Mombasa cities were on Friday night forced to spend the night on the road due to a heavy traffic jam on Mombasa Road.
The snarl-up paralysed transportation at the 60-kilometre stretch connecting Mtito Andei and Voi towns.
As of Saturday, March 2, at 8:00 am, traffic was yet to ease with passengers stranded on the busy highway.
The traffic jam became worse gradually since traffic in both directions was immobilised.
The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LODDCA) complained that the over 8-hour traffic jam had caused untold losses to businessmen and motorists who frequent the route.
LODDCA reported that multiple cargo trucks were stranded for hours with virtually all of them missing their delivery schedules.
At the time, motorists were advised to use alternative means. This was not immediately feasible considering the highway was the only main route.
On both sides, the road borders Tsavo West and East National Parks which separate Makueni and Taita Taveta Counties.
As unease boiled over, some passengers started alighting from their vehicles at night.
This was especially concerning considering that wild animals from both national parks are known to prowl the highway.
In 2018, a woman was attacked by hyenas in the same spot after she was thrown out of a vehicle.
She was later rushed to Machakos Level Five Hospital where she was treated. However, she ended up losing her left eye and hand.
