Commuters plying the Chereponi-Wanchiki road in the North East Region were left stranded on Saturday, August 16, after torrential rains submerged sections of the road and surrounding communities.
The downpour, which began around 3 a.m., caused severe flooding that rendered the major route impassable. Vehicles, motorbikes, and pedestrians attempting to cross were trapped mid-journey, forcing many to return or wait helplessly by the roadside.
For residents, the incident is an all-too-familiar ordeal. Flooding along the Chereponi-Wanchiki stretch has become a recurring problem, with communities in the area making repeated appeals for the road to be upgraded into an all-weather route. Despite years of promises, no substantial improvement has been made.
Some frustrated commuters called for urgent government intervention.
“We have nowhere to pass to the other side. The whole place is flooded and has left us stranded. The government should help us,” one stranded passenger lamented.
Alhassan Abuganu, a former Assemblyman, expressed concern over the economic toll of the situation, especially as Saturday marked Wanchiki market day.
“The rain started as early as 3 a.m. Today is market day, but people are really struggling to cross. This market is the second most populated in the district and has the potential to boost the local economy. Yet, year after year, flooding keeps cutting us off. Government and philanthropists must come to our aid,” he said.
Meanwhile, several nearby communities have also been inundated, with residents reporting the destruction of personal property and farmlands. The Chereponi District, one of the most deprived in the region, continues to battle the twin challenges of poor road infrastructure and limited state support.
