Uhuru Kenyatta urged to intervene over blocked East Africa trade route

Trucks stuck along Mombasa-Nairobi highway at Maji ya Chumvi follow a diversion at Taru in this picture taken on November 19, 2015. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA 

By LABAN ROBERT AND REUTERS

In Summary

• Willingtone Kiberenge, acting chief executive of the truck owners' umbrella body, Kenya Transporters Association, told Reuters the delays were piling on losses for trucking companies.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to help unlock the transport crisis that has hit Mombasa road.

Mr Joho said commuters and cargo transport companies have been inconvenienced as they struggle out of the about six kilometres diversion at Taru.

A washed-out section of the road has blocked the flow of goods from Kenya's port of Mombasa since Tuesday, choking the main trade route into East Africa.

This, the governor said, has led to massive loses of time and revenue to businesses and the people not only in Kenya but regionally.

“The traffic situation along Mombasa -Nairobi Highway has become disastrous and needs urgent and proper attention. I strongly urge President Kenyatta to intervene and instruct the relevant departments to take immediate action and manage the current situation,” the governor said.

Willingtone Kiberenge, acting chief executive of the truck owners' umbrella body, Kenya Transporters Association, told Reuters the delays were piling on losses for trucking companies.

Food and vital supplies

Mombasa handles imports such as fuel and other vital goods for Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The governor warned that about 1.5 million people of Mombasa and more others in the coastal strip would face food and vital services crisis if nothing is done with urgency.

Similarly, tourists, who prefer road transport to the Coast would not like to spend more than 48 hours on a journey that usually takes eight to ten hours.

“The festive season is just around the corner and tourists are expected at the Coast for the New Year’s celebrations. They may be forced to go to other places where there is are no such hitches,” the county boss said in a statement.