Hundreds of passengers and motorists were left stranded for hours on Sunday night following a massive traffic jam along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, a critical transport corridor connecting the capital to western Kenya.
The standstill, which began between Naivasha Prisons and the Keroche area, brought movement to a complete halt on both sides of the highway.
The situation was worsened by heavy rains that continued to pound adjacent areas, further impeding visibility and road conditions.
Stranded travellers expressed frustration at the lack of timely intervention from authorities. Many lamented that no traffic police officers were deployed to manage or direct the flow, leaving thousands stuck deep into the night.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve been left helpless on this highway,” one commuter said. “There should be a rapid response system for such a busy road.”
Another blamed the drivers using the road, stating, “Too bad. It could have been avoided, but a few drivers decided otherwise.”
Earlier on Thursday, the same highway experienced a similar disruption, inconveniencing hundreds of motorists who were travelling to Nairobi.
A jam that began near the Delamere area in Naivasha stretched for several kilometres past the Gilgil weighbridge, affecting both personal and commercial transport.
On Friday, a similar situation was also witnessed when several motorists were forced to spend the night on the road on an adjacent highway due to heavy traffic along the Nairobi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha highway at the Mai Mahiu area.
Reports indicated the traffic snarl-up began around 9 p.m., mainly caused by motorists who failed to adhere to traffic rules, leading to overlapping and lane indiscipline.
The gridlock spanned over 21 kilometres and caused a blockage of the entire single carriageway, restricting movement in both directions. Attempts by the police to ease the congestion proved futile as the gridlock lasted hours into early Saturday morning.
Images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed private and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), including long-distance buses, lined up along the highway, even as the situation escalated.
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