Heavy rains render Garissa roads impassable

Heavy rains witnessed in the southern parts of Garissa County have rendered several roads impassable, greatly hampering transport activities in the area.

The heavy rains have hit several areas in the county in the last three days after a period of drought that left several animals dead.

Humans were also affected as many boreholes and water pans dried up as a result of the drought.

Heavy downpour has hit Hulugho, Ijara, Bothai and Fafi sub-counties, South of Garissa County.

Lorries carrying merchandise and vegetables have not been spared either as a majority of them remained stranded at Boji, 15 KMs from Masalani town.

Transport charges to Masalani town have tripled as a result of the poor road network.

The same is replicated on the Garissa-Wajir-Mandera road where bus owners have doubled the fare due to the poor roads.

On Wednesday, passengers got stranded in the Boji area after the road became impassable following a heavy downpour.

Haret Farah, a manager at a transport company, urged the government to prioritize repairing roads in the area saying the situation worsens whenever it rains.

“What is so difficult with even putting marram on this stretch that has proved to be a nightmare to us. It is a shame and yet we have leaders,” he said.

Ambia Hussein, a passenger, appealed to the county government of Garissa to help in putting murram on the road noting that ‘waiting for the government to do so might take years’.

Ijara deputy County commissioner Willy Chemboi and Kenya Red Cross Ijara coordinator Daud Ahmed Shalle urged residents to avoid walking in moving waters so as to avoid being swept away by the floodwaters.

Edited by Bosco Marita