The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced a heavy traffic snarlup on a section of the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, asking motorists to consider the alternative routes.
In a statement on Saturday, May 10, the agency blamed the gridlock on indiscipline from drivers who were overlapping on the highway.
Affected is the section between Kariandusi and Nakuru, which lasted for the whole night from Friday evening, May 9.
KeNHA deployed its officers to complement the traffic officers at the scene to clear the heavy traffic.
The agency called on the motorists on the highway to observe traffic discipline to make the marshals and officers' work easier.
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"We are experiencing a snarl-up on the A8 between Kariandusi and Nakuru that lasted all night due to overlapping and driver indiscipline. Motorists are advised to stop overlapping, as this will assist our teams and the police to restore order," KeNHA said.
It advised the motorists to use the other routes to avoid being caught in the gridlock.
The alternative routes open as per KeNHA's advisory are;
1. Gilgil - Olkalou - Dundori - Lanet
2. Flyover - Njambini - Olkalou - Dundori - Lanet
The Nairobi-Nakuru Highway has for a time grappled with heavy traffic as motorists and other road users exit the capital city to access the western parts of the country.
In December last year, President William Ruto observed that challenge, and promised to take an initiative in solving it.
Fast forward, the president was recently in China, where he signed a deal to expand the highway.
Ruto secured funding to dual the larger Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Malaba Highway, which would link Nairobi to Western Kenya.
The works, which were approved by the Cabinet before Ruto's visit to China, are set to commence in July and end by 2027.
Also, at the height of Ruto's April visit to China, he engaged his host, President Xi Jinping, in securing funding to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to the Ugandan border.
The two leaders ratified a plan for Phase 2B of the railway line, which would be extended to Kisumu and ultimately the Malaba border.
