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| Kenyans stuck in '50km' traffic jam on Nairobi-Mombasa road | Kenyans stuck in '50km' traffic jam on Nairobi-Mombasa road |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Kenyan police have been deployed to ease a traffic jam reportedly stretching for 50km (30 miles) on the highway between Mombasa and Nairobi. | 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. | 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. |
| The worst-affected area is around Taru, about 80km from Mombasa. | The worst-affected area is around Taru, about 80km from Mombasa. |
| Correspondents say the jam has been caused by repairs to the road following heavy rains. | Correspondents say the jam has been caused by repairs to the road following heavy rains. |
| Traffic jams are common in Kenya and are often caused by its badly maintained road network but this is said to be the worst for several years. | Traffic jams are common in Kenya and are often caused by its badly maintained road network but this is said to be the worst for several years. |
| More than 1,500 trucks have been stuck, Willingtone Kiberenge, acting chief executive of the Kenya Transporters Association, told Reuters news agency. | 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. | 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. | "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. |
| It is only the traffic heading towards Nairobi that is affected by the hold-up. | It is only the traffic heading towards Nairobi that is affected by the hold-up. |
| Some trucks that tried to turn off the single carriageway onto the scrub land alongside have become stuck in the mud. | Some trucks that tried to turn off the single carriageway onto the scrub land alongside have become stuck in the mud. |
| The BBC's Mohammud Ali Mohamed in Nairobi says there is a railway between Mombasa and Nairobi but it is old, unreliable and it takes several days to make the 500km journey. | The BBC's Mohammud Ali Mohamed in Nairobi says there is a railway between Mombasa and Nairobi but it is old, unreliable and it takes several days to make the 500km journey. |
| Those who can afford it - and do not have heavy loads - tend to fly between the cities as there are hourly flights, he adds. | Those who can afford it - and do not have heavy loads - tend to fly between the cities as there are hourly flights, he adds. |
| How long does it take to travel between Nairobi and Mombasa? | How long does it take to travel between Nairobi and Mombasa? |