Cut-off roads leave Wajir residents scrambling for fuel

Residents queue at the Tesko Petrol Station in long wait for fuel. [Mohamed Saman, Standard]

The ongoing El Nino rains continue to wreak havoc in many parts of the country with some roads cut off and residential areas marooned by raging floodwaters.

The rains have left many parts of Wajir County impassible with residents forced to walk through flood waters.

Cut-off roads has left them in dire need of essential services like food supply, fuel, food and electricity.

Several petrol stations have no fuel and those with fuel are dealing with an excess number of customers and as a result, motorists are forced to queue for hours to get fuel.

Tesko Petrol Station Manager Mr Yahya Abdi has said that they have only 7000 litres of Fuel that can sustain the town for a day or two. Motorists are allowed to get Only 20 litres so that it can sustain everybody.

Mohamed Hillow A taxi driver in Wajir has confirmed to The Standard that his car has been parked for two days due to lack of fuel.

Residents queue at the Tesko Petrol Station in long wait for fuel. [Mohamed Saman, Standard]

The taxi drivers have requested the government to fastrack the repairing of the Wajir Garissa Highway and also Wajir Nairobi Highway.

Vegetable vendors are also counting losses after the vehicles that were transporting the Vegetables got stuck due to the floods.

Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said that all the roads that were connecting Wajir County to the other counties are all blocked and therefore it is hard to get essential services like food, fuel and electricity.

He said his administration has procured tonnes of medical and food supplies and has been airlifting food and medical aids to affected areas.