The national government has announced a partial lifting of the eight-year-old night travel ban in Lamu county owing to improved security on the Lamu-Garsen road.
In the Tuesday announcement by Coast regional coordinator John Elungata when he visited Lamu, cargo vehicles have now been allowed to transport and ply the Lamu-Garsen road during the night.
A total ban on night travel on the Lamu road was introduced by the government in July 2014 at the height of terror attacks by al Shabaab militants that seemed to target PSVs and security vehicles.
Under the ban, PSVs and private vehicles were only allowed to travel during daytime in a compulsory single convoy escorted by armed police.
Following the new decree by Elungata, this now changes for cargo vehicles transporting food supplies, building materials, farm produce, shop items among others as he announced that the ban was lifted with immediate effect.
However, the ban remains in force for all PSVs.
Elungata however said there are talks with the county security committee to look into lifting the ban in full and that an announcement over the same will be delivered in two weeks.
Cargo drivers have been asked to adhere to all security directives even as they enjoy their new found freedom.
“The ban is lifted for all cargo vehicles who are now allowed to travel at night. But for PSVs, the ban remains in force until further notice because as we all know, terrorists have always targeted PSVs,” he said.
Despite the new directive, Elungata said the national government still remains vigilant to any insurgent threats in the country.
“We are building two new security roads to enhance timely response of our units here in case of need,” he said.
Security on the Lamu-Garsen road has been greatly enhanced owing to the completion of the Sh10.8 billion road construction works.
The road was officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 20, the same day he commissioned the new Lamu port site in Kililana, Lamu West.
The lifting of ban means cargo can now be easily transported to and from the Lamu port from other mainland areas of Kenya without inhibitions.
The Lamu port continues to position itself as a key trade and industrial hub to compliment the Mombasa port and has since received over eight cargo ships.
-Edited by SKanyara
