Motorists were on Saturday evening forced to spend several hours stuck on the Kisumu-Kapsabet highway following a major traffic snarl-up along the route.
The incident occurred after a trailer overturned on the highway, blocking the entire road. Motorists were forced to seek alternative routes, while others struggled to navigate the resulting gridlock.
The congestion began at around 6pm, bringing traffic on the busy road to a standstill, as the trailer lay across both lanes, leaving motorists stranded.
Reports indicated that the trailer reportedly lost control and veered off its lane before overtaking along the road, making it impossible for vehicles to pass.
The situation worsened with no immediate response from the local authorities. By 7pm, the gridlock had extended to three kilometres. However, no casualties were reported from the accident.
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.
After several hours, an emergency team arrived at the scene in the company of police officers and removed the wreckage, easing traffic, which had escalated to Kingwal in Nandi County.
The Kisumu-Kabsabet road acts as a crucial link for Kenyans who live in the Western and Nyanza regions; it also connects to neighbouring countries, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Traffic congestion along the route has been persistent in recent weeks despite frequent complaints from motorists over the government's reluctance to expand the road.
Similar incidents have occasionally been witnessed along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. In one such incident in August this year, motorists were forced to spend the entire night stuck in traffic along the highway.
The gridlock along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, which spanned over 21 kilometres, was caused by an accident that had occurred, exacerbated by the rains in the Mai Mahiu area of Nakuru.
Attempts by the police to ease the congestion proved futile, as the gridlock lasted hours, forcing some motorists to divert and spend the night in nearby car parks and hotels.
Likewise, similar traffic congestions are also common along the Kisumu-Ahero road, which mostly experiences traffic disruptions on weekends, particularly on Saturdays.
