Nairobi motorists stuck in traffic after heavy rains

Motorists were on Tuesday evening stuck in traffic following a heavy evening downpour in Nairobi and its environs.

A number of commuters were forced to pay high fares, as public transport service providers took advantage of the situation, with some paying more than four times the usual amount.

Others either stayed in their offices or sought shelter at restaurants hoping that traffic would ease up.

Several Kenyans took to social sites to inform others of their experiences enroute to their homes.

On Twitter, those plying the Eastlands route to Buru, Pipeline and Kayole said they were forced to part with between Sh300 and 450 unlike the usual Sh50-80.

Most spent about an hour and a half to two hours on trips that would ordinarily take an average of thirty minutes.

Samir Dave said on Twitter: “Five hours from JKIA to Intercontinental…Calculate man hours lost. Vision 2030? At this rate? Hah!”

Collins Van Bett said commuters going to Lang’ata and South C were charged Sh200 and Sh250 respectively.

However, some areas were not affected by the fare hikes. “We were charged Sh100 which were only Sh30 more,” Peter Mutegi told the Nation.

The Kenya Red Cross asked Kenyans to alert them through the social media website or on its toll free emergency hotline 1199.

Nairobi has been experiencing heavy downpour in the past few days.

On Monday, the Meteorological Department said the long rains would continue to next month and warned that Kenyans be prepared for flash floods.

Mr Peter Ambenje Deputy Director at the department called for building of dams on major rivers to prevent flooding.

On Sunday, seven people died after they drowned in a flash flood at Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha.