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Why navigating streets of Mombasa has become a nightmare for motorists – PHOTOS


While Mombasa attracts visitors and tourists with its remarkable landscape and breathtaking scenery, navigating around the resort city can be a difficult task.

For a start, most of the feeder roads and alleys are unmarked. For Nairobians not familiar with the streets, it is easy to get lost.

This is why you might have to rely on your phone and intuition to get around the coastal city.

On some main roads in the town the traffic and road signage are not clearly visible.

The what remains of the signage on Jomo Kenyatta avenue in Mombasa. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA
The what remains of the signage on Jomo Kenyatta avenue in Mombasa. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA

Most are illegible to motorists and pedestrians who need to read them in good time for directions.

UNMARKED ROAD

And that’s not so simple when you might be moving at high speed, simultaneously watching other things on the road, perhaps in adverse weather conditions, amid other vehicles that might obstruct the view.

Jomo Kenyatta Avenue, the main street, that travels southeast from Makupa Circus and ends at the junction with Digo Road is unmarked.

    A traffic police officer walking past a faded road signage on Jomo Kenyatta avenue, Mombasa. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA
A traffic police officer walking past a faded road signage on Jomo Kenyatta avenue, Mombasa. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA

An unwritten rusty sign post stands alone at the junction of this road normally used to exit Mombasa city.

At the Haile Selassie Avenue the writings on the directional arm are scarcely legible.

From across the road reading it passes as a writing in Arabic language due to some missing letters and color.

SIGN POSTS

At the CFC Stanbic bank roundabout that serves Moi Avenue, Nyerere Avenue and Nkrumah Road the sign posts are scarcely visible.

Nyerere Avenue which begins at the TSS Towers roundabout all the way to the Likoni ferry has an unnamed sign post.

Jomo Kenyatta avenue in Mombasa with a faded signage. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA
Jomo Kenyatta avenue in Mombasa with a faded signage. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA

At Mwembe Tayari Roundabout, the post is hidden behind a tree covering the sign.

Some letters are missing as the paint and writings have washed off.

Traffic signs or road signs are erected at the side of or above roads to give directions or provide information to road users.

The earliest signs were simple wooden or stone milestones. Later, signs with directional arms were introduced.