Motorists using the Rironi-Mau Summit highway have been urged to approach the Mai Mahiu section of the road with caution and adhere to traffic rules following a heavy traffic snarl-up along the busy route.
The road connecting Nairobi and Nakuru cities on Thursday, September 11, experienced a gridlock that stretched several kilometres, disrupting transport along the highway.
Reports indicate that the congestion affected the highway at Mai Mahiu in Nakuru County, beginning from Mutarakwa towards Nakuru CBD from Nairobi.
According to the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA), there was minimal movement from Nairobi and no movement from Naivasha towards Nairobi.
"Mai Mahiu traffic is currently stretching from Mutarakwa on the way to the town from Nairobi. Minimal movement from Nairobi and no movement from Naivasha," the Association noted.
The traffic congestion is said to have begun on Thursday at dawn, around 4am, mainly due to motorists who failed to adhere to traffic regulations by overlapping lanes and disregarding lane discipline.
The congestion was further exacerbated by Nakuru residents who blocked the road to protest the government's failure to support the recovery of the body of a mother who was swept by floods in the area.
Attempts by the traffic police to ease the congestion proved futile, as the gridlock escalated, blocking both lanes of the single carriageway.
Footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed both private and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) lined up along the highway and moving at a slower pace as some motorists attempted to navigate the congestion.
The congestion comes on the back of the government's plan to expand the road to a four-lane highway, with the construction expected to commence before the end of this year.
The expansion of the road is expected to address several constraints facing the route, including frequent traffic congestion, and enhance trade between Kenya and its neighbouring countries.
According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the road would be expanded under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, with motorists expected to pay toll fees to use it.
The government has since received proposals from two companies seeking to undertake the Ksh200 billion project. Among them is the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
