Hundreds stranded on Nairobi-Mombasa road

Hundreds of travelers were stranded for several hours along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway following a major traffic snarl-up. The traffic stretched for several kilometers between the Namanga road junction and Malili township near the Konza Techno City. The jam started as early as 5pm on Sunday forcing those traveling to Mombasa to turn back to Mlolongo town for the night.

The Machakos County police commandant Jacinta Odthiambo said rescue efforts where hampered by a heavy down poor that pounded the area. She said the jam was reportedly caused by a truck whose cabin dislodged and plunged into a ditch near Green Park Homes leaving the trailer on the road.
The situation was aggravated by overlapping along the road leaving several vehicles stuck in mud as they tried to navigate their way.

The police chief said vehicles were diverted to Kangundo Road but there was a similar pile up as a result of overlapping.
Senior police officers were dispatched to the affected area to help their traffic department to clear the over night jam that started easing by 10.00am yesterday.

Witnesses who spoke to the standard expressed disappointment with the situation and urged the government to consider making the busy road a dual carriage all the way to Mombasa.

Passengers headed for Mombasa road past Mlolongo were forced to take their sleep in the cold until yesterday morning when police officers came in and intervened.
Earlier on Sunday,there was an accident involving two trucks and saloon car near salama that caused a major traffic jam.