NAIROBI, Kenya – The night travel ban for Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) along the Lamu–Witu–Garsen road will remain in effect indefinitely, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.
The restriction, first imposed in July 2014 following a series of deadly terrorist attacks, was meant to curb Al-Shabaab ambushes targeting travellers and cargo vehicles.
Murkomen was responding to a question in the Senate from Nominated Senator Shakila Abdalla, who sought clarity on when the ban—now in its 11th year—would be lifted and what measures were in place to manage night-time medical and security emergencies.
“Terror threats in the area remain significant, with the most recent incident occurring in Mangai, Lamu East, on March 14, 2025,” Murkomen said. “The ban continues to be guided by evolving threat levels posed by Al-Shabaab. Once the area is safe, we will recommend lifting it.”
Senator Abdalla had expressed concern that the longstanding restriction had crippled transport and trade in Lamu, calling for a review to support economic recovery.
Murkomen acknowledged the economic toll but said the government’s priority is to protect lives.
“We extend the ban every three months, but I can’t provide a definite end date because the threat is still real,” he said. “However, we are working to neutralise the remaining threats so normal operations can resume.”
Emergency and Security Measures
The CS outlined a raft of ongoing measures to enhance security and emergency response along the route.
These include the deployment of armoured vehicles and increased police patrols at key points, as well as the establishment of a multi-agency command centre in Lamu to coordinate rapid response operations.
Murkomen added that medical response teams have been stationed at sub-county hospitals with standby ambulances, in collaboration with the Lamu County Government.
He also noted that community policing initiatives and counter-violent extremism programs are being strengthened to curb radicalisation and bolster long-term stability in the region.
The Lamu–Witu–Garsen road remains one of the most heavily monitored transport corridors in the Coast region, linking the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor to the rest of the country.
