City residents trapped in traffic for hours

By Cyrus Ombati

Hundreds of motorists were held up in traffic jams for up to six hours in Nairobi following a heavy downpour and fuel shortage.

Several cars stalled after running out of fuel, as others made queues stretching to the roads awaiting for the rare commodity at the few petrol stations selling.

Some people said they stayed in the traffick gridlock for up to six hours. "I arrived home at 1.30am. I was shocked I could stay on the road for that long," said Ben Rwoti, a motorist who stays off Thika Road.

Another caller James Wodera said he arrived home at midnight after staying in the jam for hours. The most affected areas were Mombasa, Thika, Ngong and Jogoo roads. Others include Westlands area, Ngara, Parklands and other adjacent roads.

Overlapping

Nairobi Area PPO Anthony Kibuchi blamed the situation on errant matatu drivers who were overlapping.

"Apart from matatus some motorists were also overlapping haphazardly, worsening the situation. It was an embarrassing moment for the city but I know we can manage the situation," he said.

Kibuchi appealed to motorists not to panic whenever it rains. Most motorists leave at once whenever it rains causing traffic lock-ups.

And on Tuesday night the situation got worse when few traffic officers on duty left various junctions they were manning following heavy rains that pounded Nairobi and its environs.

The officers said they could not cope with the situation after some motorists started to disobey their directives and drove past the areas.