Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a notice warning motorists of an impending traffic disruption at the Gitaru Interchange and Southern Bypass to Western Bypass.
This disruption is part of the ongoing construction works for the South-Eastern loop of the Gitaru Interchange, scheduled to last from Wednesday, August 28 to Sunday, October 1.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of an inspection tour by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah and the former Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, alongside the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir.
KeNHA has outlined alternative routes for motorists affected by the construction. Vehicles traveling from Nakuru to Southern Bypass will be diverted at Regen/Magana Interchange, three kilometres from Gitaru.
Those heading from the Western Bypass to Nairobi via Waiyaki Way will need to use the slip road at Kwa Magu underpass, passing through Gitaru Market before rejoining A8 at Rungiri.
Meanwhile, vehicles from Nairobi to Ndenderu will be redirected at Muguku Interchange towards the Western Bypass.
KeNHA has reassured the public that traffic on certain routes will remain unaffected. Vehicles on the Southern Bypass heading to the Western Bypass, as well as those traveling from Nakuru/Mai Mahiu to the Western Bypass, will experience no interruptions.
The announcement of this traffic disruption coincided with a tragic accident at the same interchange, which has left the local community reeling.
A bus belonging to Arch Bishop Ezekiel Group of Schools collided with a trailer at the Gitaru, Kikuyu-Wangige junction late on August 22, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The bus, which had been hired for a public event, veered off the road after the collision and overturned, causing severe damage.
Eyewitnesses were horrified by the scene, with the bus’s roof nearly destroyed by the impact. The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed, and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
The condition of any survivors is also unclear, adding to the community’s anxiety and fear.
The suddenness of the incident has sparked concern among residents and motorists who frequent the area, especially as the roadworks continue in the vicinity.
