Long queues, frustrations and anger have been witnessed in the past three days as passengers fight to board speed boats to and from Garissa.
This is after many private boat owners withdrew their services after the water levels went down on the damaged Garissa-Nairobi Road.
The long queues have affected many students who are travelling back to school.
Traders transporting perishable goods have also been affected.
Residents warned that if not managed properly, the situation could turn chaotic.
Initially, there were 20 private boats including two from Kenya coast guard, one from the Kenya Navy and another one from Tana River county.
The boat owners said the low water levels risked damaging their boats.
On Monday the Kenya Navy, the Kenya Coast guard and several private boat operators withdrew their services.
By Thursday morning only eight boats were operating.
“We have officially withdrawn our services because the water levels are subsiding very fast and we don’t to damage our boat,” a Navy officer said.
“In the last two days I have been struggling to ride the boat because the roper kept on hitting stones and Mathenge tress because water levels have subsided. What this means is that, there are high chances the propeller could be damaged,” a county boat operator said.
The few remaining boats have increased transportation fees from Sh200 to Sh300.
Joseph Karanja said he spent four hours on the queue.
“I queued from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. I am extremely tired. But I thank God I managed to cross over. It is an experience that I don’t want to go through again. I will only travel once the road is fully repaired,” he said.
Hassan Mohamed who was travelling to Nairobi to check on his ailing father said he queued for two hours.
“The queue is barely moving. Unfortunately, my options are very limited because I have to travel today. The Modogashe-Isiolo Meru route is very long and expensive,” he said.
A senior police officer said they are closely monitoring the water levels and once the floods subside, they will suspend boat operations.
Two weeks ago, the government banned private boats from operating after an overloaded boat capsized, killing 20 people at Kona Punda.
The boats were later allowed to operate after a new arrangement to ferry passengers was put in place.
