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. |
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Correspondents say the jam has been caused by repairs to the road following heavy rains.
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More than 1,500 trucks have been stuck, Willingtone 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.
"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.Image copyright NTV Image caption The distance from Mombasa to Nairobi is about 500km
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Some trucks that tried to turn off the single carriageway onto the scrub land alongside have become stuck in the mud. Image copyright NTV
Those who can afford it - and do not have heavy loads - tend to fly between the cities as there are hourly flights, he adds.
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How long does it take to travel between Nairobi and Mombasa?
- By bus: Nine hours
- By truck: More than one day
- By car: Between six and seven hours
- By plane: 45 minutes
