Motorists plying the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway on the night of Thursday, August 29, were caught in a massive traffic snarl-up stretching between Naivasha and Kikopey along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
In a statement on Friday, August 29, the Kenya National Highways Authority(KeNHA) said the congestion began from around 8:30 PM.
The authority attributed the snarl-up to the large number of motorists who had travelled to Gilgil for the National Youth Service (NYS) pass-out parade.
KeNHA also noted that the traffic snarl-up was worsened by lane indiscipline, with some motorists overlapping and blocking free movement.
“The Authority regrets to bring to the attention of the public that from around 2030 hrs yesterday, congestion developed along the Nakuru - Nairobi Highway. This was worsened by lane indiscipline, which resulted in a traffic gridlock that is currently being experienced between Naivasha and Kikopey.
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“The increase in traffic could also be attributed to a high number of motorists who travelled to attend yesterday’s NYS pass-out parade in Gilgil,” read part of the statement.
KeNHA assured motorists that it is working with traffic police officers to ease the traffic congestion along the highway.
“Motorists are urged to observe lane discipline and avoid overlapping, as it will make it impossible to ease the congestion,” KeNHA stated.
Further, the authority advised motorists planning to travel from Nairobi to Nakuru to consider using the Gilgil - Olkalou - Dundori – Lanet route or the Flyover - Njambini - Olkalou - Dundori – Lanet route to reach their destinations.
This comes a week after motorists were stuck in Nairobi–Nakuru for hours due to heavy traffic congestion.
The Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDCA) attributed the snarl-up to overlapping by motorists and failure to follow traffic rules.
The Nairobi-Nakuru highway has, for time, grappled with heavy traffic as motorists and other road users exit the capital city to access the western parts of the country.
On July 16, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that construction on the long-awaited dualling of the Rironi–Nakuru highway will begin in August 2025.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) will carry out the dualing under the PPP model. Contractors are now being assessed, and we expect to break ground by the end of August, all going well,” said Chirchir.
CS Chirchir also mentioned that the Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha road will serve as a bypass to help ease congestion on the busy highway.
The Transport CS added that teams are already on the ground carrying out geo-technical tests to assess soil conditions along the proposed construction route.
