Update (8:43am): The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has opened up the the Nakuru bound carriageway of the Nakuru - Eldoret (A8) Road after covering a massive sinkhole that had caused a traffic disruption.
Motorists plying the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway were left stranded for hours after a massive traffic jam disrupted transport activities on the busy road.
The traffic was occasioned by a massive sinkhole that affected the Nakuru-bound carriageway at the Eveready Roundabout.
The sinkhole led to the closure of the affected section of the busy highway, leading to motorists having to endure hours of traffic jam on the night of Wednesday, September 4. The traffic jam spilled over to today morning, as the issue was yet to be resolved.
Reacting to the situation, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) issued a statement assuring motorists that it was working overtime to ensure the normal flow of traffic is restored.
They urged motorists using the route to exercise caution and follow the guidance from their officials on the scene to head to alternative routes.
“This evening, the Kenya National Highways Authority closed the Nakuru-bound carriageway of the Nakuru - Eldoret (A8) Road at Eveready Roundabout following the formation of a sinkhole on the road. KeNHA is working round the clock to ensure normal traffic flow is restored,” KeNHA stated.
“Motorists are advised to exercise caution as they approach the area and follow directions from traffic police and marshals to ensure the safety of all road users,” the Authority added.
Despite KeNHA’s assurances, motorists decried the hours spent on the road and challenged the Authority to fix the situation.
The latest comes amidst a heated debate about traffic jams in the country, with the government being accused of deliberately causing traffic jams.
The accusations largely came from the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK), which alleged that the jams were deliberate to further the agenda of the nationwide tolling policy, which it urged Kenyans to reject.
In a statement released on Thursday, August 28, the group accused the government of deserting its mandate to construct roads in the country and opting for private foreign investors instead. This, according to MAK, would result in double taxation as foreign investment would result in the implementation of a toll policy.
Further, they cited the road maintenance fuel levy, arguing that the funds from the tax were not being properly utilised to construct and maintain roads.
However, in a quick rejoinder, the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Directorate dismissed suggestions that the recent traffic congestion experienced along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway was intentionally manipulated to justify upcoming toll road concessions.
In a statement issued through the National Treasury on Monday, September 1, the Director-General of the PPP Directorate, Eng. Kefa Seda described the claims as misleading and undermining the broader goal of improving national infrastructure.
