Somali-owned businesses remained closed on Wednesday in Mwingi town, Kitui County, as tension simmered in the area following recent clashes, with economic activity in the town affected and transport along the key route disrupted.
Photos taken in the town showed limited activity across areas where Somali-owned businesses operate, with restaurants, supermarkets, and small shops keeping their doors shut as traders stayed away over fears linked to the situation.
Streets that usually host traders, customers, and transport vehicles recorded low movement, with residents choosing to remain indoors or avoid busy areas.
The closure of businesses affected daily trade in Mwingi, where the Somali community runs a significant share of retail and food outlets.
Restaurants in the town serve passengers travelling along the Nairobi–Garissa route and are commonly used as stopover points for meals and rest.
On Tuesday, however, the absence of buses along the route contributed to the shutdown of these establishments.
Greenvast, a known stopover point for long-distance buses operating between Nairobi and Garissa, also remained closed.
The facility is frequently used by bus companies, including Garissa Coach and Rayan, for scheduled breaks during the journey, but no vehicles were recorded stopping there as operations were suspended.
The transport disruption followed an attack that targeted public service vehicles in Kitui County on Tuesday afternoon, leading bus companies to halt operations along the Nairobi–Garissa route.
The suspension left passengers stranded in Nairobi and other towns, with many unable to travel as planned.
A spot check conducted by The Eastleigh Voice at booking offices in Eastleigh found that travellers who had intended to leave for Garissa were turned away.
Booking agents informed passengers that buses would not operate for the day due to safety concerns following the incident. Some passengers said they had arrived early in the morning only to be told to return home.
Transport operators confirmed that services in both directions had been stopped, affecting not only departures from Nairobi but also buses travelling from Garissa to the capital.
Operators said movement along the route would remain suspended until the security situation in areas including Mwingi and Nguni improves.
The Nairobi-Garissa road is one of the main links between the North Eastern region and the capital, and the suspension of transport has cut off the movement of passengers and goods.
Operators expressed concern about the safety of crews and passengers, stating that operations would resume only after assurance from security agencies.
The disruption was triggered by an attack on several buses travelling from Nairobi, which occurred at Nguni in Kitui County.
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