Thousands of motorists and commuters were caught in a massive traffic gridlock across several Nairobi roads, including the Thika Superhighway and Eastern Bypass at Kamakis, as football fans flocked to the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani.
Thika Road inbound before the Ruiru Kamakis interchange, Kiambu Road and the northern and eastern bypasses were the most affected, as motorists were diverted away from the superhighway before Kasarani area.
Traffic came to a standstill as early as 12pm, as fans headed to the stadium for Kenya’s first ever CHAN quarter-final match against Madagascar. The heavy gridlock was largely a result of the early closure of roads leading to the stadium.
Fans, eager to watch the historic game, began flocking to the stadium even before the official noon opening of the gates. This further exacerbated the traffic situation and contributed to the chaos on the roads.
In videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the Thika Superhighway was the most affected, with traffic coming to a complete halt at the Kamakis intersection with the Eastern Bypass.
Movement to and from Nairobi's Central Business District along Thika Road was paralysed as the road was closed in both directions. A roadblock was set up at the Kamaki intersection, and another was set up on the other side of the stadium at Muthaiga, redirecting motorists from the CBD into Kiambu Road at Exit 4.
Commuters voiced their frustration with the government's decision to close roads early in the morning, hours before the match, which was scheduled for 3pm.
Many complained that the move disrupted their daily commute and made it difficult to get to work on time.
"The roads were closed too early," one local lamented. "The alternative route was the bypass, and now everyone is stuck in a gridlock."
“The roads were closed too early, making it difficult to arrive at work. The roads should have been closed later in the day, say about 1 pm,” another affected commuter shared.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo acknowledged the inconvenience even as he defended the road closures as necessary for public safety and security.
Dr Omollo, who was speaking in Baba Dogo, one of the fan zones across the city, explained that the reason why the roads were closed earlier is to make sure that Kenyans maintain law and order during the game, adding that several fan spots have been set up across the city for fans who cannot make it to Kasarani.
“We are saying ‘Tusichome game,’ that is why, we have now set fan spots where Kenyans can now watch the game, like here in Baba Dogo. We have a total of 13 fan zones across the city and we have also done the same in other parts of the country,” Omollo said.
