Lamu-Witu-Garsen commuters want 10-year night travel ban lifted

Travellers, drivers, and cargo transporters along the Lamu-Witu-Gasren route have intensified their push to have the night travel ban fully lifted. They want a total lift of the ban.

The night travel ban was imposed in the region in July 2014 after seven people, including four administration police officers, were killed by Al-Shabaab terrorists who ambushed a Tahmeed bus en route to Lamu from Mombasa at Mambo Sasa Forest in Witu.

Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) were also ordered to operate in a convoy that is normally accompanied by an armed police escort.

Despite the government coming out on several occasions to announce the lift of the night travel ban on the route, it has only been seen getting implemented partially.

Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, commuters said the continued existence of the night travel ban on their route has inconvenienced and paralysed many of their operations.

A passenger bus passes by the Kibaoni area along the Lamu-Witu-Garen route (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

The few PSVs that leave Mombasa to Lamu at 11 pm in some days of the week are forced to park and wait at the Minjila Section in Tana River until the following morning before they are allowed to proceed with their journeys to their final destination in Mokowe, Lamu County.

“We leave Mombasa at 11 pm. Once we reach Minjila at around 3 am or 4 am, we are told not to proceed but rather wait until 7 am before being allowed to proceed to Lamu,” said Said Swaleh, a conductor with one of the bus companies plying the Lamu-Witu-Garsen route.

He added, “We need to be left freely. You can’t say there’s no night travel ban yet vehicles aren’t allowed to travel freely at night.”

On the other hand, vehicles from Lamu to Mombasa cannot operate past 5pm daily.

A section of the Lamu-Witu-Garsen route (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Ahmed Abdalla, a passenger, said the ban is greatly affecting them during times of difficulty, particularly when emergencies that require travelling at night arise. He stressed that they will be happy if the government will consider allowing Lamu residents to travel any time they want.

“The ban is subjecting us to suffering and we want it fully lifted on our route. It is long overdue,” said Abdalla.

Omar Shekuwe, a tour guide operator in Lamu, pleaded with the county government of Lamu to engage in talks with the national government which is in charge of security in a move to lift the night travel ban on the route.

“As you know we are already in the high tourism season. As we head towards the December festivities season, the number of tourists, both locals and international, will increase and it’s good if the night travel ban is lifted to pave the way for travel to be undertaken at any time,” said Shekuwe.

Lamu County Commissioner, Wesley Koech said discussions were ongoing between the PSV owners, security agencies and other stakeholders to oversee whether adjustments surrounding the travel arrangements along the route can be made.

"We're in discussion with all stakeholders to come up with a plan that can accommodate all of us. Remember, security of citizens is paramount," said Koech.